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Prime Farmlands
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Prime farmland is land that has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, forage, fiber and oilseed crops, and is also available for these uses (the land could be crop land, pasture land, range land, forest land or other land, but not urban buildup land or water). It has the soil quality, growing season and moisture supply needed to economically produce sustained high yields of crops when treated and managed, including water management, according to acceptable farming methods. In general, prime farmlands have an adequate and dependable water supply from precipitation or irrigation, a favorable temperature and 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 flooding. Examples of soils that qualify as prime farmland in Montcalm County include:
Map Symbol Soil Name
Cb Coral (Locke) fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes
Cc Coral (Locke) fine sandy loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes
Eb Ensley (Barry) loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes
Ia Iosco (Wixom) loamy sandy, 0 to 2 percent slopes
Ka Kawkawlin (Ithaca) loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes
Kb Kawkawlin (Ithaca) loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes
Mh McBride (Remus) and Isabella sandy loams, 0 to 2 percent slopes
Mk McBride (Remus) and Isabella sandy loams, 2 to 6 percent slopes
Na Nester (Perrinton) loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes
Nb Nester (Perrinton) loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes
Ng Newago (Fox) loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes
Nh Newago (Fox) loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes
Nk Newago (Fox) loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes
Nm Newago (Fox) loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes
Sa Sims (Ziegenfuss) loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes
UNIQUE FARMLAND
Unique farmland is land other than prime farmland that is used for the production of specific high value food and fiber crops. It has the special combination of soil quality, location, growing season and moisture supply needed to economically produce sustained high quality and or high yields of a specific crop when treated and managed according to acceptable farming methods. Acres designated as Unique Farmland in Montcalm County is chiefly irrigated land.
MAPS
A map called "Important Farmlands" which shows prime farmland for Montcalm County is available at the Natural Resources Conservation Service office.
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This page last updated on 8/29/2003.
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