UNL Reports Declining Crop Water Needs Across Key Regions

By Scout Nelson

As the 2026 growing season progresses, crop water requirements across the Nebraska Panhandle and northeast Colorado are beginning to decline as many crops approach maturity. The latest crop water use update from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) provides growers with estimated weekly water-use figures to support irrigation planning and efficient water management.

The report was developed by Gary Stone, Nebraska Extension educator, and Xin Qiao, Extension irrigation and water management specialist, both based at the UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Their calculations and field-based assessments offer producers timely information on changing crop water demands throughout the season.

The update includes weekly water-use estimates for several key crops grown in the region, including corn, soybeans, dry edible beans, alfalfa, and other agricultural commodities. These estimates are intended to help growers make informed irrigation decisions as crop growth stages advance and water requirements begin to decrease.

According to the specialists, crop water use can differ considerably from one location to another. Factors such as evapotranspiration (ET) rates, temperature, soil conditions, wind, precipitation, and crop development stages all influence the amount of water needed by crops during a given week.

By monitoring these water-use estimates, producers can improve irrigation scheduling and apply water more efficiently. Effective irrigation management not only supports crop productivity but also helps conserve valuable water resources during the final stages of the growing season.

The report also highlights several tools available to growers for tracking crop development and water needs. These resources include crop growth stage charts, the CropWatch Growing Degree Days and Evapotranspiration (GDD/ET) tool, and the PHREEC Irrigation and Digital AgLab website, all of which provide valuable data for irrigation planning and crop management.

Detailed tables included in the update present estimated crop water use for the Nebraska Panhandle and northeast Colorado for the week of Aug. 18-25, 2026, along with weather station information that can assist producers in making more precise irrigation decisions. The findings reinforce the importance of data-driven water management as crops near harvest and seasonal water demands continue to decline.

Photo Credit: istock-dusanpetkovic