What are Agricultural Resources?
Important agricultural soils include "prime farmland" and
"farmland of statewide importance". As defined by the US Natural
Resource Conservation Service NRCS), "prime farmland" is the land best
suited to produce food, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops.
"Farmland of statewide importance" has many of the same attributes of
"prime farmland." Because good agricultural soils are relative scarce
in New Hampshire, both of these soil types are of nearly equal
importance and value. “Farmland of local importance” is land that does
not meet either of the above categories but is important to the local
farming economy. These can be areas adjacent to prime soils or flat
areas that are well suited to cropping.
What does the map show?
The Agricultural Resources Map (636kb) that Plainfield contains several significant concentrations of
important farmland soils. These areas are widely scattered, with
concentrations found along the Connecticut River, along Black Hill
Road, along Blood Brook near the Plainfield School, in the Jenney
Road/True Road area and in Plainfield Village. The lands along the
Connecticut River show the highest occurrence of prime farmland soils
in the Town and are typically well drained and near optimal ph levels
making them suitable to almost all types of crops. The NRCS has also
evaluated soils according to their suitability for timber production.
In general, soils that are suitable for growing crops are suitable for
growing trees as well. Thus, the farmland soils depicted on the map are
also suitable for timber stands. Appendix A provides summary information about important agricultural soils in the Town of Plainfield.
Why are agricultural resources important?
Plainfield has a rich agricultural history and tradition that
continues today. Plainfield, like other communities in the Upper
Valley Region of New Hampshire, has seen the number of farms diminish
over the past 50-years; however, unlike many of the towns in the region,
Plainfield retains a vibrant core of diverse commercial agricultural
enterprises and a growing number of “hobby” farms that generate a
portion of household income, food, fiber and enjoyment. Appendix B lists current Plainfield farms.
- Prime farmland and farmland of statewide importance
produce the highest yields with minimal inputs of energy and economic
resources, and farming it results in the least damage to the
environment.
- Prime farmland and farmland of statewide importance can
be farmed continuously or nearly continuously without degradation of the
environment.
- Prime farmland and farmland of statewide importance produce food and fiber for local and regional markets.
- Farmland provides open space and scenic resources which are identified as Cornerstones of our community.
- Farmland provides important groundwater recharge areas.
- Farmland provides wildlife habitat.
- Farmland provides important economic benefits, especially to the local and regional economy.
What threatens agricultural resources?
The primary threat to this resource in most communities including
Plainfield is development. Once development occurs on an important
soil type the development site cannot be used for agriculture ever
again. The quality soil is often removed from the site and replaced by
buildings driveways and septic systems. In addition, the prime soils
surrounding the construction sites are often rendered unusable due to
the fragmentation of the site caused by the placement of the buildings
and associated amenities.
Existing state laws do not forbid development on prime and
important soils. There have been several programs offered by the State
to protect valuable agricultural land through the purchase of
development rights. These have focused on lands considered most at
risk. Plainfield has benefited from this program and the Riverview Farm
property was protected.
What do we need to know?
Any additional analysis will require the accumulation of more
specific data about the Town’s farmland soil areas. We need to
accurately map the prime farmlands which are actively farmed as well as
the inactive prime and important soil areas which have not been
developed. In addition, co-occurance maps should be developed which
identify farmlands that overlap or are adjacent to other resources such
as aquifers, surface waters and critical habitats so that they can be
given priority in any conservation efforts.
What is next?
- Educate people on the importance of this resource and how
smart growth principles can be used to protect it for future
generations.
- Use GIS mapping to identify active and inactive areas of prime and important farmland soils which have not been developed.
- Work with Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)
to assign values according to soil type, use, size, etc., and rank
these areas taking into account other factors such as threat of
development and other resource values (i.e.: proximity to an aquifer,
wildlife habitat, etc.). Use this information to designate “resource
envelopes” which identify areas of special importance.
- Seek funding to purchase development rights on the highest ranked prime farmland in order to preserve these areas.
- Evaluate Town zoning, building, sub-division and other
regulations in terms of their impact on agriculture including the extent
to which they do or should:
- Promote “conservation subdivisions”
- Require that development take place out of high quality agricultural “resource envelopes”.
- Allow the trading of development rights to protect quality
farmland in exchange for higher density in more appropriate
locations.
- Prevent unreasonable barriers to agricultural uses.
- Promote a vibrant local agricultural economy to help keep
farms profitable thus reducing the threat of development on productive
fields.