<font color=blue>STATE OF THE IRRIGATION INDUSTRY:</font> Spending on an Upward Slope

When it comes to purchasing components and parts for irrigation systems, contractors are steadily spending more from year to year. In fact, contractors’ annual expenditures for 2007 increased 13.5 percent from 2006, according to research conducted by Lawn & Landscape. Contactor’s annual expenditures averaged about $39,800 for 2007 compared to $26,300 in 2006. Irrigation companies expect spending to increase again in 2008 and project their annual expenditures for irrigation systems and components to be around $47,500, the data says.
 
The spending trend is seen across the nation. For example, irrigation contractor Tom Fochtman is still investing in components and parts for basic irrigation installation and maintenance. This year the co-owner of Denver-based CoCal Landscape spent about 10 percent more on irrigation equipment such as pipes, rotors, spray heads, controllers and valves. “We brought more irrigation systems and components this year due to our internal growth and the corresponding growth in our irrigation revenue,” he says.
 
Anthony Paola, owner of Anthony Paola Lawnsprinkler Co. and Eclipse Design in Lincoln, R.I., purchased 5 percent more this year in products and components for basic irrigation installation and maintenance. He attributes the increase to projects carried over from last fall from people who were building additions or installing pools. “This is work you cannot predict from one year to the next,” he says. “But the increase was due to people who are still spending money on home improvements.”
 
JD’s Sprinkler Systems in Bozeman, Mont., also purchased more irrigation supplies as a result of more installations and services, says owner Shawn Cole. “We purchased 11 percent more in dollars, some of which is higher prices and the rest more volume,” he says.