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Supplemental Irrigation with the Irrigation Financial Estimator Tool (IFET)-Workbook

ID

BSE-237A

Authors as Published

J. Mitchell Paoletti, Research Assistant, Virginia Tech Department of Biological Systems Engineering and Julie Shortridge, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Virginia Tech Department of Biological Systems Engineering

This publication is available in an Excel Workbook only.

Row crop agriculture in Virginia and other Eastern states is largely rainfed, but there is increasing interest in irrigation as a way to manage dry periods and weather variability. However, irrigation systems require substantial installation and operating costs, and it can be very difficult determine if yield improvements will be sufficient to justify these costs. This publication provides an overview on the Irrigation Financial Estimator Tool, which was recently developed to help row crop producers estimate financial aspects of supplemental irrigation. The tool estimates installation and operating costs, as well as revenues from improved yields, using user-supplied information and historic data on weather and prices for crops and fuel. It accounts for uncertainty in these estimates by presenting a range of values for each cost.


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Publication Date

November 30, 2018