How to Choose an Irrigation Pump for Corn Belt and Plains Fields

Irrigation is a big business on the Plains. USDA's 2023 irrigation survey counts 53.1 million irrigated acres nationwide, with Nebraska at 7.3 million and Kansas at 2.3 million. Behind every one of those acres is a pump, and a poor match between pump and field costs money every season. This guide walks through the decisions in the order you should make them.

Start with the water source

Your source decides the pump type.

Deep well: usually a turbine or submersible pump sitting in the well. Well depth, casing size and the water level in a dry summer all matter.
Surface water (stream, pond, canal): usually a centrifugal pump at the bank, where suction lift is the limit.
Booster duty: a second pump that adds pressure to an existing line, for example to feed a pivot at the far end of a system.

Ask your well driller or pump dealer for the static water level, the pumping level and the tested yield of the well. Do not size a pump on a guess about the well.

Know your two numbers: flow and pressure

Every pump choice comes down to two requirements.

Flow (gallons per minute). This comes from your crop water need and how many acres the system must cover.
Total pumping head. Lift from the water level, plus the pressure the pivot or sprinkler package needs, plus friction losses in pipe and fittings.

University of Arkansas economist Brad Watkins makes a related point in a 2024 cost article: pumping cost depends on crop, power source and pumping depth, and deeper water means more expensive irrigation. Head is not just a spec-sheet number. It is a cost you pay every hour the pump runs.

Read the pump curve, not the label

A pump does not have one flow and one pressure. It has a curve. Ask the dealer for the curve of the exact model and impeller. You want your duty point to land near the best-efficiency point of the curve. A pump forced to run far from that point wastes energy, wears faster and may vibrate or cavitate.

Check these before you buy:

Does the duty point fall in the efficient middle of the curve?
What happens if the water level drops? Will the pump still deliver?
What happens if you add acres later?

Choose the power source

The Watkins article uses diesel at $3.54 per gallon and electricity at $0.138 per kWh in its cost comparison, finds diesel the more expensive option at those prices, and notes that many farms have moved from diesel to electric. It also says diesel stays common where running power lines to distant fields costs too much. Those are Mid-South figures from 2024, so plug in your own local fuel and utility rates before deciding.

Practical points:

Electric motor: lower running cost where three-phase power is nearby. Ask your utility about line extension and any irrigation rate.
Diesel or engine drive: works where there is no line. Plan for fuel storage, service and engine maintenance.
Variable frequency drive (VFD): lets the pump match changing demand, and pivot makers such as Valley list VFDs next to their pumping stations. A VFD needs a compatible motor and correct setup, so have the dealer specify it.

Match the pump to the pivot

Pivot manufacturers publish the flow and pressure their machines need. Start from the pivot package, then add well and pipe losses. Plan for the end gun or any special nozzle package too, because it changes pressure demand.

Pick a supplier you can reach in July

A pump that fails at peak water demand is expensive. Before you buy, ask:

Is there a local dealer with parts on the shelf and a service truck?
Who tests the pump after installation and records flow, pressure and power draw?
What does the warranty cover, and who handles it?

Valley and Lindsay both work through dealer networks, and Franklin Electric lists agricultural water systems among its lines. A dealer visit also lets you compare the quotes side by side.

Maintenance that pays for itself

Record flow, pressure and power draw when the system is new. A change later is an early warning.
Check packing, seals, bearings and couplings before the season starts.
Keep intake screens clear and watch for sand in well water, which wears impellers.
Have wiring and motor protection checked by a qualified electrician.

See equipment in person

The Irrigation Show and Education Week runs December 7-10, 2026 in Las Vegas. It is a good place to compare pump, pivot and control options and talk with dealers.

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General information only. Have a qualified pump dealer, well contractor and electrician confirm sizing and electrical work for your site.