Preferable Agricultural Climate
      Mississippi has a warm, moist climate with long summers and short winters. The early spring season gives the Delta farmer a liberal window to plant his crop. If the fields are too wet to plant due to heavy spring rain showers the farmer still has ample time; many Mid Western farmers do not have this luxury. With high average temperatures and many sunny days, the Delta's extended summer enables cash crops like rice, cotton, soybeans, and corn to thrive.  

Natural Rainfall in the Mississippi Delta
      The average rainfall per year in the Mississippi Delta amounts to 1,274.3 mm (50.4 inches) per year. The monthly average distribution of rainfall can be considered excellent. During the spring growing season, the Delta receives an average rainfall of 381.7 mm (15.1 inches) while an average of 285.1 mm(11.3 inches) of precipitation is received during the summer.

Abundant Irrigation Water Supply in the Mississippi Delta
      To secure a good crop production every year, the farmers in the Delta take advantage of the abundant ground water, especially during the years with reduced natural rainfall.

      Mississippi Delta farmland is extremely fortunate to have a very reliable irrigation water supply. The Mississippi River and numerous other tributaries constantly replenishes the Mississippi River Alluvial Aquifer which feeds the Mississippi Delta's groundwater. Farmers can irrigate their crops with wells reaching only about 100 hundred feet (30 meters) below the surface. In the last 30 years the depth required to reach groundwater in the Mississippi Delta has remained very stable since our aquifer is replenished. The ground water quality is exceptional. It contains alkaline substances, which through irrigation, maintains or increases an adequate soil pH; thus limestone and other pH adjusting additives do not have to be added to the soil. With the excellent climate of the Delta, irrigation is not always necessary, but if Mother Nature doesn't cooperate, crop yields will not be affected.

      Many farmers in other agricultural regions of the United States have exhausted their irrigation water supply. The ground water table has fallen to an alarmingly low level in many states over the Midwest and in the Western Hemisphere. The very large sweet water underground lakes, called aquifers, have been lowered so much through the utilization of this water by agriculture, industry and towns, that the high pumping cost has become unjustified forcing many farmers to abandon their lands. A lot has been written and discussed about this subject in newspapers, magazines and television. There are several pending court cases between states about the water rights and who is eligible to use water from rivers and lakes along state lines. Only cautious, well-informed prospective farmland purchasers know that sweet water is a limited commodity, which cannot be replaced. Virtually non-exhaustible irrigation is just one of the many advantages that provide a safe, reliable investment in the Mississippi Delta.

Low Irrigation Cost
      The Mississippi Delta has the lowest irrigation cost within the United States. An irrigation well producing 2,500 to 3,000 gallons per minute (10,000 to 12,000 liters per minute) can be installed for only $14,000. Such a well can be operated very economically with only one 100 horse power diesel engine or electric motor. This valuable water supply can hardly be appreciated enough. In times of national drought, Mississippi Delta landowners that have wisely invested in a means of irrigation can have peace of mind in knowing that their crops are not only protected but are still able to flourish.

Precision Land Forming
      Relatively new to row crop farming in the United States, precision land forming agricultural fields allows the farmer to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of irrigation and the drainage of fields. With the use of computer mapping and laser guided earth moving equipment, engineers are able to precisely form the fields to ensure even distribution of the flow of water, whether for irrigation or drainage. This expensive but very essential investment into the plantation helps to ensure that the landowner will receive the highest yields possible, whether the growing season was too wet or too dry. Precision land forming is just one of the many tools the Mississippi Delta farmers utilizes to help secure a reliable and profitable crop year after year.

Conclusion
      Since the present world population of 6 billion is predicted to increase to 9 billion within 45 years, the need for food and fiber will increase steadily. Internationally, governments have set mandates requiring cleaner burning fuels be set in place, looking readily for alternatives to petroleum based sources. Farmland with depleted irrigation water sources will have tremendous cutbacks in production. With the constant loss of land due to industrialization and population growth, our irrigatable and fertile Mississippi Delta land will become even more valuable and more precious, reaping the benefits of being able to consistently and efficiently produce food, fiber, and energy.