2010-11-17_REVISION - C1981008 (3)

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�R /50 MON 11;57 FAX 303 236 2896 NAGS COLO SO COLOPADO IMPORTANT FARMLAND DORY Prime Farmland is cove of our nation's most important natural resources. Iten managed properly, This exceptional land can be £uxmed' continuously without degradation. It responds to fertilizers and other soil amendments, and requires less energy input to maintain productivity. However, like other natural resources such as coal, oil, or natural gas, the supply of this land, suitable for food and fiber production, is Iimitied, under U.S. ConVessional Public Law 9S -87 (published in the Federal Register January 31, 1978; Part 657), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, was charged with the major xesponsibi.lity for identifying and locating Prime and Unique Rarmlands. In additi.an to these lands, which are considered to be of national ortance, the Important Farmland Program-also encouraged the identification of Farmlands of Statewide and Local importance. ,Responsibility for identifying and locating these lands are assumed by the State Experiment Station in cooperation with the Colorado Department of Agriculture and Department of Natural Resources - Colorado State Soil Conservation Board; regional county, and local units of -goverment; and other persons involved in Planning the'use of land- resources. In order to meet -these responsibilities, irnaps shcuirig the location of Important Farmlands were designed for those counties having Prime Farmlands (see Appendix for map 0811ability). The specific purpose of this publication is to (1) describe the criteria, used for identifying the various categcries of "XmpoYtant.Farmlands , (2) provide a list of soil map units on a county- by•county basis -that have been identified to date as being Important Farml=4$'- ( ) illustrate ways that the important Farmland map might be used. CATEGORY DEFINITIMS AND CRITERIA Prime Farmland General.. Prime far 4and is land that has the best siq c €�inatiOn O P y and chemical ch$racteristics for producing forage, fiber, and oilseed crops, and is also available for these uses (the land could be cropland, pastureiand, rangeland, forest land, or Other land, but not urban built -up land or water).• It has the soil quality, growing season, and moisture supply needed to economically produce su.5tainecl- high yields of crops when treated and managed, including water management, according to acceptable far'ndng• methods. In general, prune farmlands have an adequate and dependable water supply fTOYR pzecipitation or irrigation, a favorable temperature and growing season, acceptable acidity pr alkalinity, accepubl a :sal,t • atd sodium content, ar!d few or no rocks: They are permeable to water and air. Primearm]aads are not excessively erodible ar saturated with water for a long period of time, and they either do not flood frequently cr arc protected from, flooding. Y Q1003