§ 657.5 7 CFR Ch. VI (1–1–13 Edition)

problems that may occur among States ‘‘Saline and Alkali , Agriculture for specific series or soil mapping Handbook 60.’’ units. (i) The soils have: (c) National Office. The Deputy Chief (A) Aquic, udic, ustic, or xeric mois- for Soil Survey and Resource Assess- ture regimes and sufficient available ment (see 7 CFR 600.2(b)(3)) is to pro- water capacity within a depth of 40 vide national leadership in preparing inches (1 meter), or in the root zone guidelines for inventorying prime (root zone is the part of the soil that is farmlands and for national statistics penetrated or can be penetrated by and reports of prime farmlands. plant roots) if the root zone is less than 40 inches deep, to produce the com- [43 FR 4031, Jan. 31, 1978, as amended at 65 monly grown cultivated crops (cul- FR 57538, Sept. 25, 2000] tivated crops include, but are not lim- ited to, grain, forage, fiber, oilseed, § 657.5 Identification of important farmlands. sugar beets, sugarcane, vegetables, to- bacco, orchard, vineyard, and bush (a) Prime farmlands—(1) General. crops) adapted to the region in 7 Prime farmland is land that has the or more years out of 10; or best combination of physical and (B) Xeric or ustic moisture regimes chemical characteristics for producing in which the available water capacity , feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed is limited, but the area has a developed crops, and is also available for these water supply that is depend- uses (the land could be cropland, able (a dependable water supply is one pastureland, rangeland, forest land, or in which enough water is available for other land, but not urban built-up land irrigation in 8 out of 10 years for the or water). It has the , grow- crops commonly grown) and of ade- ing season, and moisture supply needed quate quality; or, to economically produce sustained (C) Aridic or torric moisture regimes high yields of crops when treated and and the area has a developed irrigation managed, including water manage- water supply that is dependable and of ment, according to acceptable farming adequate quality; and, methods. In general, prime farmlands (ii) The soils have a temperature re- have an adequate and dependable water gime that is frigid, mesic, thermic, or supply from precipitation or irrigation, hyperthermic (pergelic and cryic re- a favorable temperature and growing gimes are excluded). These are soils season, acceptable acidity or alka- that, at a depth of 20 inches (50 cm), linity, acceptable salt and sodium con- have a mean annual temperature high- tent, and few or no rocks. They are per- er than 32 °F (0 °C). In addition, the meable to water and air. Prime farm- mean summer temperature at this lands are not excessively erodible or depth in soils with an O horizon is saturated with water for a long period higher than 47 °F (8 °C); in soils that of time, and they either do not have no O horizon, the mean summer frequently or are protected from flood- temperature is higher than 59 °F (15 ing. Examples of soils that qualify as °C); and, prime farmland are Palouse silt loam, 0 (iii) The soils have a pH between 4.5 to 7 percent slopes; Brookston silty and 8.4 in all horizons within a depth of clay loam, drained; and Tama silty 40 inches (1 meter) or in the root zone clay loam, 0 to 5 percent slopes. if the root zone is less than 40 inches (2) Specific criteria. Prime farmlands deep; and, meet all the following criteria: Terms (iv) The soils either have no water used in this section are defined in table or have a water table that is USDA publications: ‘‘Soil Taxonomy, maintained at a sufficient depth during Agriculture Handbook 436’’; ‘‘Soil Sur- the cropping season to allow cultivated vey Manual, Agriculture Handbook 18’’; crops common to the area to be grown; ‘‘Rainfall- Losses From Crop- and, land, Agriculture Handbook 282’’; (v) The soils can be managed so that, ‘‘Wind Erosion Forces in the United in all horizons within a depth of 40 States and Their Use in Predicting Soil inches (1 meter) or in the root zone if Loss, Agriculture Handbook 346’’; and the root zone is less than 40 inches

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deep, during part of each year the con- lineating this land are to be deter- ductivity of the saturation extract is mined by the appropriate State agency less than 4 mmhos/cm and the ex- or agencies. Generally, additional changeable sodium percentage (ESP) is farmlands of statewide importance in- less than 15; and, clude those that are nearly prime farm- (vi) The soils are not flooded fre- land and that economically produce quently during the growing season (less high yields of crops when treated and often than once in 2 years); and, managed according to acceptable farm- (vii) The product of K (erodibility ing methods. Some may produce as factor) × percent slope is less than 2.0, high a yield as prime farmlands if con- and the product of I (soils erodibility) × ditions are favorable. In some States, C (climatic factor) does not exceed 60; additonal farmlands of statewide im- and portance may include tracts of land (viii) The soils have a permeability that have been designated for agri- rate of at least 0.06 inch (0.15 cm) per culture by State law. hour in the upper 20 inches (50 cm) and (d) Additional farmland of local impor- the mean annual soil temperature at a tance. In some local areas there is con- depth of 20 inches (50 cm) is less than 59 cern for certain additional farmlands °F (15 °C); the permeability rate is not for the production of food, feed, fiber, a limiting factor if the mean annual forage, and oilseed crops, even though soil temperature is 59 °F (15 °C) or high- these lands are not identified as having er; and, national or statewide importance. (ix) Less than 10 percent of the sur- Where appropriate, these lands are to face layer (upper 6 inches) in these be identified by the local agency or soils consists of rock fragments coarser agencies concerned. In places, addi- than 3 inches (7.6 cm). tional farmlands of local importance (b) Unique farmland—(1) General. may include tracts of land that have Unique farmland is land other than been designated for agriculture by prime farmland that is used for the local ordinance. production of specific high value food and fiber crops. It has the special com- PART 658—FARMLAND bination of soil quality, location, grow- PROTECTION POLICY ACT ing season, and moisture supply needed to economically produce sustained Sec. high quality and/or high yields of a spe- 658.1 Purpose. cific crop when treated and managed 658.2 Definitions. according to acceptable farming meth- 658.3 Applicability and exemptions. ods. Examples of such crops are , 658.4 Guidelines for use of criteria. tree nuts, olives, , fruit, and 658.5 Criteria. vegetables. 658.6 Technical assistance. 658.7 USDA assistance with Federal agen- (2) Specific characteristics of unique cies’ reviews of policies and procedures. farmland. (i) Is used for a specific high- value food or fiber crop; (ii) Has a AUTHORITY: 7 U.S.C. 4201–4209. moisture supply that is adequate for SOURCE: 49 FR 27724, July 5, 1984, unless the specific crop; the supply is from otherwise noted. stored moisture, precipitation, or a de- veloped-irrigation system; (iii) Com- § 658.1 Purpose. bines favorable factors of soil quality, This part sets out the criteria devel- growing season, temperature, humid- oped by the Secretary of Agriculture, ity, air drainage, elevation, aspect, or in cooperation with other Federal other conditions, such a nearness to agencies, pursuant to section 1541(a) of market, that favor the growth of a spe- the Farmland Protection Policy Act cific food or fiber crop. (FPPA or the Act) 7 U.S.C. 4202(a). As (c) Additional farmland of statewide im- required by section 1541(b) of the Act, 7 portance. This is land, in addition to U.S.C. 4202(b), Federal agencies are (a) prime and unique farmlands, that is of to use the criteria to identify and take statewide importance for the produc- into account the adverse effects of tion of food, feed, fiber, forage, and oil their programs on the preservation of seed crops. Criteria for defining and de- farmland, (b) to consider alternative

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