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. -~'' <br />United States Deparment of Agriculture <br />o MRCS <br />NaWrai Resources Corrserva~ion Service ~im,~yd(~oo.trsdagov <br />J'lm Boyd, Resource Cor~ervatiortist g7p327-4245-OFFICE <br />P. O. Box 29 970~27~247-FAX <br />Norwood, CO 81423 <br />February 21, 2008 <br />Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />101 South 3~ Strut, Suite 301 <br />Grand Junction, CO 81501 <br />Dear Concerned ]Parties: <br />In regards to a determination of Prime Farmlands on the New Horizon Mine, Nucla, CO, the <br />United States Departrnerrt of Agriculture -Natural Resources Conservation Service {USDA- <br />NRCS), considers the soil map unit `Begay Fine Sandy Loam,1 to 3 Percent Slopes, a Prime <br />Farmland, if irrigated This soil type occurs in the far northwest corner of the New Horizon <br />Mine permit areas and constitutes about 3.5 acres. Aerial photographs show that this soil was <br />historically irrigated and therefore meets USDA NRCS criteria for Prime Farmland. <br />The reclamation of this area is subject to State of Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, <br />and Safety regulations concerning reclamation of Prime Farnilands for surface coal mining <br />operations. The post-mining land use objectives of the property owner maY or maY not influence <br />the nature of the reclamation process. It is not for USDA NRCS to decide this matter. <br />In regards to common farming practices associated with growing Alfalfa Hay as the primary crop <br />on irrigated cropland, the typical crop rotation is as follows: <br />1) Plant alfalfa in the spring with a cover crop of oats and irrigate <br />2) Harvest .the oats whey mature <br />3) Manage the alfalfa stand for five to seven years- The length of time will depend on the <br />vigor and productivity of the alfalfa plants low/disk down the alfalfa. and plant <br />4) When the production of the alfalfa stand declines, p <br />small grains such as oats, wheat, barley, sorghum/sudan grass, etc., for one or two years. <br />Control broadleaf weeds during this period of the cropping sequence. <br />5) After one or two years of small grains, replant Alfalfa with a cover crop of oats as in year <br />one. <br />G) Performs all other sound agricultural practices during this cropping sequence such as <br />proper nrrigation water management, nutrient.management, pest management, and <br />harvesting. - , - ~ ~ . <br />The Natural Resource Conservation Servieewarks in perrnsiship with the American People An Equal OpporluNly Provider and Employer. <br />to conserve and sustain netr+rsl resounxs on private lands. <br />