State Technical Committee Presentation Kim McCracken State Soil Scientist March 10, 2015

 Increased emphasis on education and outreach about soils and soil health  Develop and strengthen relationships with other agencies and organizations

2015 NH SOILS CONFERENCE  First NH soils conference since 1999  Updates from NRCS, NH agencies & organizations  Soil data and mapping  Use of LiDAR  Reduced budget and staffing  impact on services  Input from attendees on local priorities

Quick review from our last meeting: Two concurrent efforts to update soil data and information  “Seamless” soil map from coast to coast  Continued research, analysis and modeling to improve our understanding of use and limitations based on soil properties – focus on key soil interpretations

For % organic carbon?

 Updates are needed to reflect the latest research findings and improved modeling capabilities and to provide nationwide consistency.  Much of the early initial mapping and data collection/analysis focused solely on agricultural production.  Soil data and maps are used in many different ways today.

 Not happening in the near future  Gradual updates over time will improve spatial joins  Access to LiDAR data has greatly improved our ability to read the landscape and estimate where to draw “the line”

 Splitting vs lumping when mapping soils  Many, many “map units”, some with as few as 10 ac  Effort to reduce the number of map units to make the process more manageable  Merging similar (but not the same) units  Standard NRCS Soils Data and Interps will be populated/calculated by regional staff

 What about our “local” information?  Soil Potential Index  Important Forest Soil Groups  Prime Farmland Soils  Soils of Statewide Importance  Soils of Local Importance

Farmland of local importance is farmland that is not prime, unique or of statewide importance, but has local significance for the production of food, feed, fiber and forage. In New Hampshire, criteria for the identification and delineation of local farmland is determined on a county- wide basis by the individual County Conservation District Boards. The original criteria were established on June 20, Updates are noted according to the county initiating the update. The criteria for soils of local importance is as follows:

Belknap and Merrimack Counties Have slopes less than 25% Are not extremely stony or bouldery Are not poorly or very poorly drained Complexes consisting of less than 40 percent shallow soils and rock outcrop and slopes do not exceed 25 percent. Includes excessively drained soils developed in stratified glacial drift. Carroll, Cheshire, Hillsborough, Rockingham, Strafford and Sullivan Counties Soils that are poorly drained, have artificial drainage established and are being farmed. Specific soil map units identified from the NRCS county soil survey legend, as determined by the Conservation District Board. Coos County Soils that are poorly drained, have artificial drainage established and are being farmed. Specific soil map units identified from the NRCS county soil survey legend, as determined by the Conservation District Board. All land that is in active farm use. Grafton County Specific soil map units identified from the NRCS county soil survey legend, as determined by the Conservation District Board.

 Discussions of potential issues with a sub- committee to make recommendations to State Conservationist and other data users.  Fair and consistent  Open and transparent

If you have questions or want more information: Kim McCracken State Soil Scientist Durham State Office