Use of soil survey information by farm and nonfarm groups in three Minnesota counties

ABSTRACT:

How information in soil survey reports has been used by farm and nonfarm groups in three Minnesota counties—Anoka, Douglas, and Goodhne—was evaluated. Also evaluated were the previous awareness of the availability of soil survey reports and the extent of interest in educational programs about their use. Major agricultural uses of the reports were for planning what crops to plant, determining tillage system suitability, and evaluating land to be purchased. Nonfarm uses included determining land values, planning construction activities, and land use planning and zoning. An average of 48 percent of the farmers responding were previously aware of their county's soil survey, and 20 percent of the farmers responding used the information. A much higher percentage of use and awareness, 71 percent and 75 percent, respectively, was indicated by the nonfarm group. This disparity between the two respondent groups was due partly to limited sampling of the nonfarm population.