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Prime and Unique Farmlands

Prime and Unique Farmlands

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) keeps a current inventory of prime and unique farmland in the US.  The objective of the inventory is to identify the extent and location of important rural lands needed to produce food, feed, fiber, forage, and oilseed crops.  Prime and unique farmlands are defined in 7 CFR Part 657.  Farmland considered in NEPA documents includes:

  • Prime
  • Unique
  • Other than prime or unique that is of statewide importance
  • Other than prime or unique that is of local importance

Determination of farmland status is made through review of the Natural Resources Conservation Service Web Soil Survey.