Statewide Important Farmlands for Virginia

Background

Unparalleled growth and prosperity are leading to rapid expansion of small and mid-sized cities onto agricultural land. Since 1982, developed land has increased by nearly 800,000 acres in the State. With the decrease in total cropland, adequate protection of this resource becomes vital in maintaining sustainable agriculture.

The Farm Bill of 2002 reauthorized USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to administer the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP) as a means of encouraging and supporting efforts by local, state, and non profit groups to preserve farmland through easements. USDA is allowed to fund up to fifty percent (50%) of the easement cost to approved applicants. Program requirements stipulate that a minimum of 50 percent of the land area be composed of prime, unique, statewide, or local designated important soils.

Senate Bill 1052 Preservation of Important Farmlands introduced by State Senator Emmett W. Hanger Jr., passed by the Senate and signed by the governor on March 16, 2003 states that: “All agencies of the Commonwealth, in promulgating regulations and undertaking capital projects, shall encourage the preservation of farm and forest lands.“ It also stated:

For the purposes of receiving federal funds, state agencies and local governments, either or both, with the cooperation of the United States Department of Agriculture, may designate state and locally important soils, which include prime, unique, and locally important farmland. However, individual participation in any state program that is based partially or wholly upon such designation shall be contingent upon the consent of the landowner.

Definitions

"Important farmland," other than prime or unique farmland, is land that is of statewide or local importance for the production of food, feed, fiber, forage, nursery, oilseed or other agricultural crops, as determined by the appropriate state agency or local government agency, either or both, and that the United States Secretary of Agriculture determines should be considered as farmland for the purposes of this chapter;

“Prime farmland” is land that has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, fiber, forage, oilseed, nursery, and other agricultural crops with minimum inputs of fuel, fertilizer, pesticides, and labor, and without intolerable soil erosion. Prime farmland includes land that possesses the above characteristics but is being used currently to produce livestock and timber. It does not include land already in or committed to urban development or water storage.

"Unique farmland" is land other than prime farmland that is used for production of specific high-value food and fiber crops, as determined by the United States Secretary of Agriculture. It has the special combination of soil quality, location, growing season, and moisture supply needed to economically produce sustained high quality or high yields of specific crops when treated and managed according to acceptable farming methods.

Role of USDA-NRCS

It is NRCS policy to promote land use objectives responsive to current and long-term economic, social, and environmental needs. This policy recognizes the rights and responsibilities of State and local governments for regulating the uses of land under their jurisdiction. Thus at the request of the State, NRCS assisted in:

„ Developing statewide important farmland criteria „ Providing criteria for approval and adoption by Virginia state agencies „ Selecting criteria based on soil properties from NASIS (National Soil Information System)

Timeline

„ January 8, 2003 – Senate Bill 1052 introduced; patron – Emmett W. Hanger Jr. „ February 28, 2003 – bill passed „ March 16, 2003 – signed by Governor „ August 9, 2003 – statewide important farmland criteria approved by state agencies (Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation)

Criteria required to classify as statewide important farmland are based on the following soil properties:

„ Slope: <15% in Coastal Plain, <25% elsewhere „ Drainage: Somewhat poorly drained or better „ Flooding: Occasional or better „ Available water capacity: >4.5 inches in the upper 40 inches „ Erosion: ƒ Not severely eroded or ƒ <27% clay in the surface layer or ƒ >27% clay in the surface layer and slope <4% „ Rock outcrops: <25% of the surface area „ Rock fragments: <35% in the surface layer, <3% on the surface „ Saturated hydraulic conductivity: >0.01 µm/sec or >0.06 inches/hr „ pH: Between 3.5 and 8.4 „ SAR (sodium adsorption ratio): <15 in the upper 24 inches „ Electrical conductivity: <8 mmhos/cm in the upper 24 inches „ No urban or built-up land

Specific questions regarding this list and its development should be addressed to David Kriz, State Soil Scientist at [email protected] or (804) 287-1646. Farm and Ranchland Protection Program questions should be addressed to John Myers, Environmental Specialist at [email protected] or (804) 287-1668.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD.)

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD.) USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.