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"'Y E�QA /So NON 11187 FAX 303 238 2898 NACa COLA 80 COLORAW IMPDRTANT FAWN.'D INVWORY Prime Farmland is one at our nation's most important natural resources. Whan managed properly, this exceptional lard can be £armed continuously without degradation. It responds to fertilizers and other soil amendments, and requires less energy input to maintain productivity. However, like other natural resources such as coal, ail, or natural gas, th supply of this land, suitable for food and fiber production, is limited, Under U.S. Congressional Public Law 95 -87 (published in the Federal Register Jana 31 1978; Part 657), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservat on a ce, was charged with the major responsibility for identifying and locating Prime and Unique Farmlands. In addition to these lands, which are considered to be of national importance. the Important Farmland Program also encouraged the identification of Farmlands ,?Statewide and Local Importance. Responsibility for identifying and locating these lands are assumed by the State Experiment Station in cooperation with the Colorado Department of Agriculture and Department of Natural Resources - CelOrade State Soil Conservation Board; regional county, and local units of 'government; and other persons involved in planning the'use of land resources. In order to meet.these responsibilities, maps showing the location of Important Farmlands were designed for these counties having Prime Farmlands (see Appendix for map availability )• The specific purpose of this publication is to (1) describe the criteria used for identifying the various categories of "Important.Farmlands "; (2) provide a list of soil map units on a county- by' county basis.that. have been identified to date as being Important Farmlands: (3) illustrate ways that t h e Important Farmland map might be used. CATEGORY DEPINIYIMS AND CRITERIA prime Farmland General. Prime farmland is land that has the best combination of pFy and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops, and is also available for these uses (the ' land could be cropland, pastureland, rangeland, forest land, or other land, but not urban built -up land or water). It has the soil quality, growing season, an d moisture supply needed to economically produce sustained high yields of crops when treated and managed, including water management, according to acceptable farming methods. in ge prime farmlands have an adequate dependable water supply precipitation or irrigation, a favorable temperature end growing season, acceptable acidity or alkalinity, acceptable salt and sodium content, and few or no rocks: They are permeable to water and air. Prime farmlands are not excessively erodible or saturated with water for a long period of time, and they either do not flood frequently or are protected from 11 003 J V • flooding.