Make Every Acre Count: How Drip Irrigation is Turning Struggling Ground into Top-Performing Fields [VIEWPOINT]

In today’s farming economy, every acre needs to earn its keep. But volatile weather, tighter margins, unpredictable commodity prices, and rising scrutiny over resource use make that more challenging than ever. The reality is that most farms have at least a few problem acres that don’t produce quite on par with the rest of the field, whether it be soggy low spots, sandy knolls that dry out too fast, or uneven terrain. While some farmers have elected to leave areas of those acreage untouched, others have turned to innovative solutions that could improve their operations and improve yields across their farms.

A newly released study from the Precision Technology Institute (PTI) Farm in Illinois in collaboration with Netafim USA, has shown the impact of precision irrigation on yield and land-use for farmers. The study sought to evaluate the effects of Netafim USA drip tape irrigation system and its ability to feed water and nutrients. The results were dramatic, as the farm grew the highest yields of 435 bushels per acre, an outcome that would have been impossible without drip irrigation. There was also an increase in soybean yields by 32.3 bushels per acre, with a more than $300 return per acre.

For over six years running, PTI has been conducting subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) studies across different crops, and it has consistently ranked as PTI’s top-performing ROI trial across multiple row crops. Moreover, the study shows that cropland once written off as poor-producing can be transformed into high-performance acreage with the right systems in place. Agronomists there combined SDI, field tiles, and an on-farm reservoir. This combination has completely transformed the concept of what is considered arable land.

As more farms look to future-proof their operations against both drought and flooding, smarter water management techniques are quickly becoming essential tools in a farmer’s arsenal. The study brings to light several important points worth considering.

Why Subsurface Drip is Gaining Ground

Subsurface drip irrigation has been commonly used in high-value crops. But the modern systems in the study have proven their worth in corn, soybeans, cotton, and other commodity crops. Unlike pivots or flood irrigation, drip systems deliver water and nutrients directly to the root zone, with precision and attuned to what each particular crop requires.

This reduces evaporation, avoids runoff, and creates an environment of consistent moisture across every inch of the field. At PTI, SDI with drainage tiles and a reservoir supported even historically difficult ground to maintain ideal moisture during dry periods.

Benefits to Both Drought-Stricken and Flood-Prone Areas

Farms across the U.S. are grappling more often with less predictable weather. In wet years, like 2019, more than 19 million acres went unplanted due to excess rain. More recently, widespread drought has caused billions in crop losses, particularly across the Great Plains. At the same time, groundwater levels in primary aquifers continue to fall, increasing water depletion concerns.

Drip systems help manage both ends of the spectrum. When paired with tile drainage and a reservoir, excess water is captured and stored during wet times and then reused during dry spells. This turns what normally can be a liability, standing water, into a valuable resource.

The system also supports more precise nitrogen application. Weekly fertigation applied through drip in smaller targeted doses to the root zone reduces waste, lowers fertilizer costs, increases uptake, and lowers environmental risks associated with leaching or runoff. This is especially important in areas like the Great Lakes or the Mississippi River Basin, where water quality concerns are growing.

Increased Opportunities Within Marginal Land

It’s an agricultural truism that nearly every farm has patches of underperforming land, whether it’s prairie potholes, low spots, or field edges that irrigators like pivot systems can’t reach. Subsurface drip opens up those acres to cultivation as it’s flexible enough to adapt to odd shapes, hillsides, or heavy soils where traditional irrigation struggles.

In the study, drip systems turned those previously underused zones into some of the farm’s most productive acres. Because the water is applied slowly and uniformly, even tight clay soils can absorb it without runoff or ponding, which makes a significant difference for those growers trying to bring poor terrain to life. Uniform moisture also supports better crop health. With SDI, where drip lines are generally buried between 13 and 18 inches, the soil surface is essentially dry, reducing weeds and the potential for foliar disease, often exacerbated by excess moisture, saving time and chemical costs.

Farming for the Future

PTI’s study shows that with SDI there are opportunities for farmers to definitively improve yields, reduce water use, and reinvigorate their low-performing acreage with the right modern tools. With a smart subsurface drip irrigation implemented, cropland that once lost money can become a reliable source of income, even in a tough weather environment. As input costs rise and weather becomes more extreme, farms that invest in precision irrigation and water recycling will be better positioned to compete in the long term.