2010-04-14_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981008

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...... _ ........... ................. ..... 622 -10 Part 622 - Soil Survey Land Classif catiur i and Interpretative ciroups (3) Prepare a statewide list of: (i) Soil mapping units that meet the criteria for prime farmland; (ii) Sail mapping units that are farmands of statewide importance if the criteria used were based tin sail information; and (iii) Specific high -value food and fiber crops that are grown and, when combined with other favorable factors, qualify lands as unique farmlands. Copies are to be furnished to SCS field offices and to SCS national tecluiical centers (NTCs). (See 7 CFR 600.3, 600.6.) (4) Coordinate soil mapping units that qualify as prime farnlands with adjacent states, including the states responsible for the soil series. Since farmlands of statewide importance aril unique farmlands are designated by others at the State level, the snail mapping units and areas identified need not be coordinated among states. (5) histruct SCS district conservationists to arrange local review of lands identified as prime, unique:, and additional farmlands of statewide importance by conservation districts and representatives of local agencies, This review determines whether or not additional farmland should ba identified to meet local decision- making needs. (6) Make and publish each important farmland inventory on a base ma Lp of national map accuracy at an intermediate .scale of 1:50,OW or 1:100,000. State conservationists who need bas maps of other scales are to submit their requests with justification to the administrator for consideration. (b) National Technical Centers. Field representatives are to provide requested technical assistance to stag comervationists in inventorying prime and unique. farmlands (see 7 CFR 6x4.2). This assistance imludes reviewing statewide lists of snail mapping units that meet the criteria for prima farrnlasntls and resolving coordination problems that may occux among states fear specific soil series or sail mapping units. (c) National Offiez. The Assistant Administrator for Field Services (see 7 CFR 600.2 is to provide national leadership in preparing guidelines for inventorying prime fam lands and for national statistics and reports of prune fartnlands, 657.5 Identfiicationi of important farmlands. (a) Prime farri7lands. (1) Generai, Prime farmland is land that has the best combination of physical and chernical characteristics for producing food, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops and that is also available for these uses (the land could be cropland, pastureland, rangeland, forest land, or other hand but not urban or built -lip land or water areas), it has the sail quality, growing season, and moisture supply needed to produce sustained high yields of craps in an economic manner when treated and managed, including water, ac,00rding to acceptable far g methods. In general, prune farmlands have an adequate and dependable water supply from precipitation or irrigation, a favorable temperature and growing season, acceptable levels of acidity or atkdin ty, m acceptable ccntent of salt and sodium, and few or no rocks. They have soils that are permeable to water and air. Prime farmland is not excessively erodible or saturated with water for a long period of time., and it either does not flood frequently or is protected from flooding, Examples of soils that qualify as prime farmland are Palouse silt loam, 0 to 7 percent slopes; Brookston silty clay loam, drained; and Tama silty clay loam, 0 to 5 percent slopes. (2) Specific criteria. Terms used in this section are defined in 'USDA publications: "Soil Taxonomy, Agriculture Handbook 435;" "Sail Survey Manual, Agriculture Handbook 1$," "R,aizifall- Erosion Losses from Cropland, Agriculture Handbook 292;" "Wind Erosion Forces in the United States and Their Use in Predicting Soil Loss, Agriculture Handbook 346 ;" and "Saline and Alkali Soils, Agriculture Handbook 60." Prime farmlands meet all the following criteria: (430- VI-NSSH, Nov. 1993)