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The Role of Irrigation in the Development of Agriculture in the United States

Author

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  • Edwards, Eric C.
  • Smith, Steven M.

Abstract

We examine the role of irrigation in explaining U.S. agricultural gains post-1940. Specifically, we analyze how productivity and farm values changed in the western United States as a result of technological and policy changes that expanded access to ground and surface water. To statistically identify the effects, we compare counties based on their potential access to irrigation water defined by physical characteristics. We find areas with access to large streams and/or groundwater increase crop production relative to areas with only small streams by $19 billion annually, equivalent to 90 percent of the total annual increase in the western United States after 1940.

Suggested Citation

  • Edwards, Eric C. & Smith, Steven M., 2018. "The Role of Irrigation in the Development of Agriculture in the United States," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 78(4), pages 1103-1141, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jechis:v:78:y:2018:i:04:p:1103-1141_00
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Hrozencik, Aaron & Gardner, Grant & Potter, Nicholas & Wallander, Steven, 2023. "Irrigation Organizations: Groundwater Management," USDA Miscellaneous 335424, United States Department of Agriculture.
    2. Hrozencik, Aaron & Aillery, Marcel, 2021. "Trends in U.S. Irrigated Agriculture: Increasing Resilience Under Water Supply Scarcity," Economic Information Bulletin 327359, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    3. R. Aaron Hrozencik & Nicholas A. Potter & Steven Wallander, 2022. "The Cost-Effectiveness of Irrigation Canal Lining and Piping in the Western United States," NBER Chapters, in: American Agriculture, Water Resources, and Climate Change, pages 107-134, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Hrozencik, Robert A. & Rouhi Rad, Mani & Uz, Dilek, 2023. "Electricity Demand by the Irrigated Sector in Response to Climatic Shocks," 2023 Annual Meeting, July 23-25, Washington D.C. 335469, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    5. Jesus Arellano‐Gonzalez & Frances C. Moore, 2020. "Intertemporal Arbitrage of Water and Long‐Term Agricultural Investments: Drought, Groundwater Banking, and Perennial Cropping Decisions in California," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 102(5), pages 1368-1382, October.
    6. Smith, Steven M., 2018. "From decentralized to centralized irrigation management," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 62-87.
    7. Tran, Dat Q. & Kovacs, Kent & Wallander, Steven, 2020. "Optimal groundwater augmentation through managed aquifer recharge and on-farm reservoir under uncertainty and risk," 2020 Annual Meeting, July 26-28, Kansas City, Missouri 304295, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    8. Daniel Cooley & Steven M. Smith, 2022. "Center Pivot Irrigation Systems as a Form of Drought Risk Mitigation in Humid Regions," NBER Chapters, in: American Agriculture, Water Resources, and Climate Change, pages 135-171, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    9. Mullally, Conner & Chakravarty, Shourish, 2018. "Are matching funds for smallholder irrigation money well spent?," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 70-80.
    10. Hrozencik, Aaron & Aillery, Marcel, 2021. "Trends in U.S. Irrigated Agriculture: Increasing Resilience Under Water Supply Scarcity," USDA Miscellaneous 316792, United States Department of Agriculture.
    11. Ariel Ortiz-Bobea, 2021. "Climate, Agriculture and Food," Papers 2105.12044, arXiv.org.

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