By Cameron Rudolph
July 2026 was among the driest on record across many parts of Michigan, according to National Weather Service data, putting the state’s agriculture sector in a precarious position. Plant growth is severely hindered by these conditions, forcing growers to rely on irrigation to supplement the lacking precipitation.
When irrigation is desperately needed, growers seek to use water resources as precisely as possible, said Younsuk Dong, an assistant professor and irrigation specialist in the Michigan State University Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering.
July 2026 was among the driest on record across many parts of Michigan, according to National Weather Service data, putting the state’s agriculture sector in a precarious position. Plant growth is severely hindered by these conditions, forcing growers to rely on irrigation to supplement the lacking precipitation.
When irrigation is desperately needed, growers seek to use water resources as precisely as possible, said Younsuk Dong, an assistant professor and irrigation specialist in the Michigan State University Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering.
“Many farmers in Michigan recognize the value of supplementing rainfall with irrigation to increase profitability and protect against seasonal weather challenges,” said Laura Campbell, senior conservation and regulatory relations specialist with Michigan Farm Bureau. “Our farmgate value for irrigated land shows this. While we irrigate less than 10% of Michigan agricultural land, it produces nearly 40% of our farmgate value.
Source : msu.edu