Irrigation Needs Could Quadruple for Eastern Shore Soybean Farmers in July and August
UMD Research Shows Increase in Water Demands by End of Century Will Require Changes to Irrigation Systems and Strategies
June 08, 2026
As climate continues to change, shifting rainfall patterns, more heat, and evaporation will mean soybeans require more irrigation to meet yields.
A new study from the University of Maryland found that even moderate climate change will severely stress underground water supplies on the Eastern Shore during the summer months, and by 2100, soybean crops will need 3 to 4 times more water in July and August than rainfall will provide.