Laserfiche WebLink
United States Oepartiaent of Agrlaulture <br />o►NRCS <br />Nalral Raaolar as CorraarvaWn Sar4w jyp �y�eausdagw <br />JUn Boyd. Raoutae CawnadoNst 87 Q3?J-4246.OFWr= <br />P. O Banc a g7o,9,2 -.M7 -FAX <br />Norwood, 0081423 <br />February 21, 2008 <br />Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br />Dust of Natural Resources <br />101 South P Street, 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 Department of Agriculture — Neural Resources Conservation Service (USDA - <br />NRCS), considers the soil map unit "Begat' Fine Sandy Loam,1 to 3 percent Slopes„ a prime <br />Farmland, if irrigted. This soil We occurs in the for northwest comer of the New Horizon <br />Mine permit area and constitutes about 3.5 acres. Aerial photographs show that this soil was <br />historically irrigated and therefore meets USDA NRCS a tea is 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 Farmlands 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 pamary crop <br />on irrigated cropland, the typical crop rotatioa is as follows: <br />1) plant alfalfa in the spring with a cover crop of oats and irrigate <br />2) Harvest the oasts when mature on the <br />3) the alfalfa stand for five to seven years. The length of time will depend <br />vigor and productivity of the alfalfa plants plow/ down the alfalfa and plant <br />4) When the production of the alfalfa stand declines, <br />small grains such as oats, wheat, barley, sorghumisudan 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. cure such as <br />6) Perform all other sound agriculttavI practim during this cropping sequ <br />p irrigation water management, nutrient.manapamt, pest management, and <br />harvesting. <br />r6. N�ral Rrow=can..n.uou 8ankaararb N parMna wdh ri. Amarian Paopra M area Fmpbryrr <br />m eomarva and sustain aeraaal raaaaoa as ptgm INndk. <br />