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COLORADO IMJ'uRTANT FARM -AI`VD INVENTORY <br />Prime Farmland is one of our na.t on's most important natural resources. <br />6hen managed properly, this exceptional land can be farmed' continuously <br />without degradation. It respoQ to fertilizers and other sail <br />amendment-,, and requires Mess energy input to maintain productivity. <br />However, like other natural resources such as coal, oil, or natural gas, <br />the supply of this land, suitable for food and fiber production, is <br />limited. <br />Under U.S. Congressional Public Laws 95 -87 (published in the Federal <br />Register January 31, 1973, Part 657), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, <br />Soil Conservatian Service, was changed with the rrsajor responsibility for <br />identifying and Ioc:aring Prime and Unique Farmlands. In addition to <br />these. lands, whic-h are coTisidered to be of national irnportaaice, the <br />Important Farmland Progrw also encouraged the identification of Farmlands <br />of Statewide and Local IrWortance. Nesponsibility for identifying and <br />locating these lands are ass..ieid by the State Experiment Stailon in <br />cooperatictn with the Colorado Department of ,Agriculture and Department <br />of Natural Resources - Colorado State 'Soil Conservation Board; regional <br />county, and local units of goverrinten , and other persons involved in <br />planning the use of land resources. In under to meet these responsibilities, <br />reaps showing the location of Importa - at Farmlands were designed for those <br />counties having Prime Farmlands (see Appendix for trap availability). <br />The specific purpose of this publication is to (1) describe the criteria <br />used for identifying the various categories of "Important F'armlancis " ; <br />(2) provide a list of sail {nap units on a Cour:ty -by county basis that <br />have been identified to date as being Important Farmlands: (3) illustrate <br />ways that the Important Farmland Trap might be used. <br />CATEGORY DEFINITIONS AND CRITERIA <br />Prime Farmland <br />General. Prime fanuland is land that has the nest combination of <br />pFy and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, forage, <br />fiber, and oilseed crops, and is also available for these uses (th° <br />land could be cropland, pasturelar:d, rangeland, forest land, or other <br />land, but not urban built -up land or water). It has the soil quality, <br />growing season, and rncisture supp! needed to econorrucally produce <br />sustained high yields of craps wliczr :seated and managed, 'Including <br />water management, according to acceptable farming Methods. In ,general, <br />prune farmlands have an adequate and dependable water supply{ from <br />precipitation or irrigation, a favorable temperature and growing season, <br />acceptable acidity or alkalinity, acceptable salt and sodium content, and <br />few or no rocks, They are permeable to water and air. Prime farmlands <br />are not excessively erodible or saturated with water for a. long period <br />of tune, and they either do not flood frequently ur are protected From <br />flooding. <br />1 <br />