Video:IrrigateCost App

This video describes the UNL Extension Agriculture Irrigation Costs App (IrrigateCost) that computes the annualized costs of owning and operating an irrigation system.

A number of management decisions are based on the annualized costs of owning and operating an irrigation system. Before developing land for irrigation, the first decision should be to determine whether the irrigation system will be economically feasible. In other words, will the net income from increased yields achieved by irrigation development exceed the added costs of owning and operating the system over its expected life. After deciding to proceed with irrigation development, one is faced with many design choices, including which energy source to use for pumping the irrigation water, the type of distribution system, etc.

The IrrigateCost app models center pivot and gated pipe irrigation systems and the most commonly used energy sources on separate tabs making side-by-side comparisons between alternatives possible.