Irrigated agriculture underpins U.S. crop production; however, it operates within a highly capital- and energy-intensive system that is increasingly exposed to climate-related challenges, such as water scarcity and floods, as well as changing market dynamics (e.g., regulations, geopolitics, and shifts in demand). Millions of acres rely on a combination of on-farm pumping and off-farm delivery infrastructure (e.g., water districts, state projects), creating a high-cost baseline for both farmers and irrigation districts.
Since 2000, drought has led to roughly US$25 billion in agricultural losses, underscoring the limitations of traditional irrigation practices—particularly in the Western U.S. These risks are accelerating a shift toward efficient irrigation systems, modernized conveyance infrastructure, and digitally enabled solutions designed to reduce water usage, energy consumption, and labor intensity while improving operational control.
Against this backdrop, the landscape of irrigation technology and vendors is also evolving. Established water technology providers and emerging start-ups are developing channels to offer more integrated hardware, software, and services that align with the need for increased efficiency and long-term water constraints.
This Insight Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the U.S. irrigation market for agriculture, covering key drivers, market trends, and forecasts through 2031. It also evaluates the competitive landscape with an emphasis on digitally enabled solutions that improve water and energy efficiency, supported by in-depth profiles of 40 major irrigation companies.
Table of Contents
Section 1 – U.S. Agricultural Irrigation Water Market Structure
- Irrigation Water Supply Stakeholders and Definitions
- Off-Farm, On-Farm Water Both Top-Heavy Markets
- Water Sources for Irrigation: On-Farm vs. Off-Farm
- Key Stakeholders Across Irrigation Water Delivery Systems
- Variability Demonstrated by Irrigation Districts’ Offerings
- USDA Funds On-Farm Irrigation Projects in Select States
- The Bureau of Reclamation and IIJA Fund Off-Farm Projects
Section 2 – Drivers Shaping U.S. Irrigation Water
- Irrigations Water Market Drivers and Inhibitors
- Irrigation Water Supply Risks
- Droughts Reshape Water Supply Reliability for U.S. Agriculture
- Groundwater Depletion Threatens Long-Term Water Supplies
- State Groundwater Management and Water Rights Policies Affect Irrigation Use
- Government Subsidies Impact On-Farm Income
- High Pumping and Purchased Water Costs Headline On-Farm Expenses
Section 3 – How Farmers and Water Agencies Are Adapting
- Farmers Shift Toward Water Efficient Drip Irrigation
- Methods for Deciding When to Irrigate Are Increasingly Digitalized
- Water-Scarce States Lead in the Adoption of Efficient Irrigation
- Pump Sales Stagnate Due to Rising Costs and Restrictive Policies
- Water Delivery Organizations Are Adapting Through System Upgrades
Section 4 – Market Forecast: Where Irrigation Spend Is Growing
- Irrigation Market Sizing Model
- Cumulative Spend by Source and Expenditure Type for Irrigation
- Cumulative Spend by Category and Region
- On-Farm digital technologies Growth Outpaces Non-digital technologies Purchases
- On-farm digital technologies Is Projected to Grow Fastest
- Market Outlook and Opportunities for the U.S. Agricultural Irrigation Market
Section 5 – Competitive Shifts Reshaping the U.S. Irrigation Market
- Irrigation Is Served by Distinct On-Farm and Off-Farm Vendor Ecosystems
- Leading Irrigation Companies Tend to Be Specialists
- Irrigation Vendors Shifting Toward Digitization, Services, and Financing
- Evolving Distributor Competitive Landscape
- Regional Distributors Primary Channel to Market for On-Farm Equipment
- Off-Farm Water Delivery Organizations Favor Direct Relationships with OEMs
- Irrigation Remains a Specialist Market, Heightening Exposure to Farm Cycles
- Financing Has Become a Go-to-Market Tool
- Revenue Volatility Tracks Farm Income and System Focus
- Off-Farm Equipment Demand Driven by Water Source and Funding
- Pump Supply Is Dominated by Diversified Industrial Manufacturers
- Digital Technology: Established and Emerging Technologies
- On-Farm Digital Irrigation Landscape
- Off-Farm Digital Irrigation Landscape
- Emerging Digital Technology Vendors Concentrated in On-Farm Solutions
Section 6 – Profiles of Leading Companies in the U.S. Irrigation Market
- AZUD
- Hunter Industries
- Irritec
- Jain Irrigation Systems Limited
- Lindsay Corporation
- Metzer
- Nelson Irrigation Corporation
- Netafim
- Rainbird
- Reinke
- Rivulis
- T-L Irrigation
- Toro Company
- Valmont Industries
- Arable
- Ceres AI
- CropX
- FarmHQ
- Farmonaut
- HydroPoint Data Systems
- PTx Trimble
- Semios
- Flowserve
- Franklin Electric
- Grundfos
- KSB
- Pentair
- Xylem
- AvidWater
- Core & Main
- DBC Irrigation Supply
- DripWorks
- Ewing Outdoor Supply
- Ferguson Enterprises
- Heritage Landscape Supply Group
- Irrigation Station
- Rain for Rent
- SiteOne Landscape Supply
- Sprinkler Warehouse
- Winsupply
