2015-08-31_PERMIT FILE - C1981010A (22)

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2.5.2 Farming Areas that are used for farming (see Section 3.5.2), though much smaller in acre- age than rangeland sustain the heaviest use, e.g. surface disturbance created by plowing, increased compaction from farm equipment, nutrient depletion through crop removal, increased wind and water erosion doting periods prior to vegetative cover establishment, etc. These normal agricultural practices contribute to reduced soil surface stabilization. Wheat is the major cash crop produced in Moffat County, with yields averaging approximately 22 bushels per acre (see Appendix F, Premising Land Use). However in 1980, wheat yield from one field adjacent to Trapper's reclaimed cropland and farmed by a local farmer was approximately 12 bushels/acre (personal communica- tion, Mr. Robert Barnes). In 1980, quadrats were also used to measure wheat pro- duction from the field farmed by Mr. Barnes. An estimated yield of 22.5 bushels/ acre resulted from this sampling. Wheat is generally seeded at about 40 pounds per acre in the fall. Fertilizers are seldan applied because of unpredictable spring moisture patterns. However, herbicide spraying with 3/4 pounds 2,4-D • applied per acre is a common practice (Martin, 1980). The best farming land found within [he proposed permit boundary is rated by the Soil Conservation Service as Class IV. This reflects severe limitations, res[ricting the choice of crops and requiring special management practices. How- ever, because the normal terrain found throughout Moffat County is rocky, hilly, etc., i[ is generally not suitable fur farming and contains major limitations. However, in Moffat County, Class IV land is considered adequate for planting crops since it is the best land available. Within the proposed permit area, ten sites exhibiting signs of possible distur- bance based on vegetative variation Erom aerial photos were examined to determine if these sites were used for farming within a ten year period prior [u mining. The identified areas and results are as follows (see also Map 28): • 2-179 REV 1SED f EB 13 '87 - ~..-_ -