National Resources Inventory
The point falls in a certified tract or field that is on file with the USDA-Farm Services Agency with the associated land use information for that tract or field.
The point falls in a tract or field that has an associated conservation plan on file with NRCS that lists certified conservation practices and/or RUSLE2 erosion estimates for that field. Plans can include complete RMS plans or participation in conservation programs such as EQIP or CRP.
Conservation Practices - If a point falls in a conservation practice such as a grassed waterway or field border, record the information for the field that the conservation practice is benefitting unless the conservation practice is wider than 100 feet and greater than one acre in size. In that case, the point would be treated as if the practice were the field.
Continuous CRP – Treat continuous CRP as if it were a conservation practice. A marginal pasture practice would be coded as grassland. A CP-Waterway less than 1 acre and narrower than 100 feet is coded as the field it benefits.
Prior NRI Data – The survey displays the land use that was recorded the last time the segment was surveyed. If you determine that this historical data is erroneous, please correct the prior NRI data and leave a segment note describing the situation.
General CRP Contract - A voluntary program that offers annual rental payments and cost share assistance to establish long-term resource-conserving covers on eligible land. These covers include perennial grasses, forbs, trees, and shrubs. Contract duration is between 10 and 15 years. Land can only be enrolled in the general CRP during specific announced competitive bidding signup periods.
A field or area is considered cropland or hayland if is associated with these land types:
Grassland, not defined as Rangeland - A land
cover/use category on which the vegetation is dominated by grasses,
grass-like plants, and or forbs not defined as rangeland used
primarily for the production of introduced or domesticated native
forage plants for livestock grazing, erosion control, wildlife habitat
or recreation areas. Cultural practices may include periodic tillage,
fertilization, mowing, weed control and irrigation. This category
does not include intensely managed turfgrass areas around home and
businesses.
This means grassland for pastureland, wildlife planting, etc.
is considered eligible for local data. It also means that some
non-agricultural areas that have a grass cover and which the Remote
Sensing Lab (RSL) has determined to be grassland are considered eligible
for local data collection. The SRIC will be able to provide guidance for
appropriate RUSLE2 systems and other variables for the non-agricultural
grasslands.
If the point falls on a grassland cover associated with a
conservation practice that is less than one acre in size and narrower
than 100 feet in width, including those enrolled in the continuous CRP
(such as field border, grassed waterway, terrace backslope, filter
strip, buffer strip), then provide information for the field or area
that surrounds that practice. If it is greater than one acre, record the
land use that best defines the point.
An area is not considered Crop, Grassland, or Hayland if is associated with other land types, such as:
Select the sign-up number for the general CRP sign-up that the field was enrolled in. This information is included in the FSA records. Choice list only includes general CRP sign-up periods. Continuous sign-ups are not listed.
Select the appropriate major cover practice associated with the CRP contract. This information should be available from the FSA records or the NRCS conservation plan.
General type of irrigation system, gravity, pressure or both.
Gravity - Water is delivered to the farm and/or field by the force of gravity via surface or subsurface methods by:
Pressure - Water is delivered to the farm and/or field in pump or elevation induced pressure pipelines distributed across the field by:
Gravity and Pressure - Farm delivery and field distribution of irrigation water are a combination of gravity an pressure facilities. For example, a valve is used to reduce pressurized water delivered to a farm or field for subsequent distribution by a gravity surface irrigation system.
The initial source of irrigation water delivered to a field.
Ground water - Where the initial source of irrigation water to a field is from a well, where a hole has been drilled or bored into the earth to provide access to water.
Surface water - Where the initial source of irrigation water to a field is derived from an open water resource such as a canal, ditch, lake, reservoir, pond, stream, wastewater lagoon, or some other source of wastewater.
The method of delivery of irrigated water to a field from the water source, including:
Canal or ditch - A natural or artificial waterway (canal or trench) used for irrigation.
Pipeline/Wellhead - A conduit of pipe used for the conveyance of water or a wellhead that serves to deliver water directly to a sprinkler.
Select all conservation practices from the provided list that impact the NRI point and were installed as part of a Farm Bill program or conservation plan and meet NRCS standards.
A geographic area or zone based on the production of common crops under similar management systems, including common dates of tillage, planting, and harvesting. Crop management zones have been used by state specialists to develop common crop management systems (templates) used in RUSLE2 and this web application.
The sequence of agricultural operations used through one complete cycle of the entire crop rotation. For each survey show the entire crop rotation regardless of which crop was grown during that particular year. If the normal rotation is corn-soybean-wheat, select a three year management sequence that includes all of the crops and use this same rotation for each survey year. The system selected should for be the planned rotation and not include irregular events such as non-cropping due to a flood or drought, etc.
Enter any RUSLE2 support practices such as contouring, strip cropping,
barriers, terraces, diversions, etc. The
RUSLE2 Program Users Guide (a PDF file) can provide
guidance.
If you are not familiar with the RUSLE2 model, contact your
State Agronomist or RUSLE2 Specialist to determine how these practices
are used in your state.
Period of the year when most of the erosion from unprotected fields can be expected to occur. Critical wind ersion periods are specified in the Field Office Technical Guide.
A measure of the effect of ridges made by tillage and planting implements. It is expressed as a decimal from 0.5 to 1.0. Refer to your local Field Office Technical Guide and the National Agronomy Manual for more information. K factors are determined relative to the prevailing wind direction. Always use K values based on the critical wind erosion period of the year. Do not use the management period method to determine WEQ factors for the NRI.
A procedure for estimating wind erosion that involves assigning factor values to represent field conditions expected to occur during specified time periods.
The effect of vegetative cover in the wind erosion equation is expressed by relating the kind, amount, and orientation of vegetative material to its equivalent in pound per acre of small grain residue in reference condition (Sge). V factors are based on the kind of crop grown and how residue is managed. Management information is obtained from the Field Office records and local knowledge. Pounds of residue are converted to Sge using materials available in the National Agronomy Manual or in the Field Office Technical Guide. For crops that do not have Sge material in the National Agronomy Manual or in the Field Office Technical Guide consult with the State Agronomist. Assume 2600 pounds of Sge if the sample point falls in heavy vegetative cover.
The wind erosion equivalent of vegetative cover, compared to a small grain standard. The standard (reference condition) is defined as small grain stalk 10 inches long lying flat on the soil surface in 10-inch rows that are perpendicular to the wind direction, with stalks oriented parallel to the wind direction. The small grain equivalent value is a function of kind, amount, and orientation of growing plants or plant residues on the soil surface.