Pumps by average discharge operating pressure. 
This category is the average pressure of pumps, other 
than well pumps, used on the operation. 
Reason for discontinuance of irrigation since 
2012. These data reflect the expanded number of 
operations that irrigated in 2012 but not in 2013 and 
the acres or area irrigated in the previous eensus 
year. The data also show the reason for 
diseontinuanee. Some respondents reported multiple 
reasons, while others gave no speeifie reason. 
Reclaimed water. Reclaimed water is wastewater 
that has been treated for non-potable reuse purposes. 
Sources include municipal, industrial, off-farm 
livestock operations, and other reclaimed water 
sources. Water from off-farm livestock facilities, 
munieipal, industrial, and other reclaimed water 
sources were reported as off-farm supplies. While 
reelaimed water from on-farm livestoek faeilities 
were reported as on-farm surface water. 
Recycled water. Recycled water is the reuse of 
surface or ground water that has already been used to 
irrigate a crop on the operation. Recycled water use 
was reported as on-farm surface water. 
Solar pumps. The data were not published at the 
State level because of low data reliability at the State 
level. There are few operations with solar pumps in 
the population. 
Sources of irrigation information. These data 
show which sources were used by farmers to help 
them make irrigation decisions. The information for 
this item was tabulated as reported. No imputation 
was made for a blank response. 
Sprinkler systems. Center pivot systems are 
published as either high-pressure delivery with water 
delivered at 60 psi or more, medium pressure 
delivery with water delivered at 30 to 59 psi, or low 
pressure delivery with water delivered at less than 30 
psi. Linear move tower and solid set or permanent 
systems are published as medium to high pressure at 
30 psi or more or low pressure, less than 30 psi. The 
mechanical-move systems are further classified as 
either linear move, side roll, wheel move, or big gun 
where the sprinkler device is moved across the field 
either by self-propelled methods or by tractor. 
Hand move systems include any distribution systems 
which are moved without mechanical assistance. 
Other sprinkler systems include any other system not 
listed on the report form. 
Tail water pits. Irrigation water is captured after the 
initial application of irrigation water. The water 
drains into a collection pit and is returned through an 
irrigation system to irrigate the same field or other 
fields. 
Total cropland. This category includes cropland 
harvested, cropland used only for pasture or grazing, 
cropland idle or used for cover crops or soil 
improvement but not harvested and not pastured or 
grazed, cropland on which all crops failed or were 
abandoned, and cropland in cultivated sunnner 
fallow. 
Water management practices. These practices 
refer to gravity irrigation systems only. The 
respondent reported whether they used any of the 
techniques listed on the report form and the number 
of acres on which they applied this technique. Some 
respondents answered “Yes” to the screening 
question, item 1 in Section 17, but did not indicate 
which technique they used or the number of acres for 
any technique. No imputation was made for a blank 
response. 
Water Resources Regions (WRR). Data from 
FRIS were tabulated by WRR. Boundaries of these 
areas are shown on the map on page 1. Geographic 
descriptions of the areas used to approximate water 
resources region are as follows: 
01 New England Region. The drainage within the 
United States that ultimately discharges into the Bay 
of Fundy and the Atlantic Ocean. These points of 
discharge are located within and between Maine and 
Connecticut; Long Island Sound and the St. Francis 
River, a tributary of the St. Lawrence River. 
02 Middle Atlantic Region. The drainage within the 
United States that ultimately discharges into the 
Atlantic Ocean, whose point of discharge is located 
within and between New York and Virginia, and the 
Richelieu River, a tributary of the St. Lawrence 
River. 
2012 Census of Agriculture Appendix B B - 7 
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service 
