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C. Agriculture Section Navigation: The landscape of Darby Watershed is predominately agricultural. Land in the Darby Watershed is some of the most productive land in the state for corn and soybeans (See Figure 32). Much of the watershed is composed of land that is rated as prime farmland or prime when adequately drained. Glacial activity left a layer of fertile topsoil that, with the proper drainage, is well-suited for agriculture. The identification and protection of prime farmland is important to the agricultural community. A series of 4 maps has been created illustrating a detailed look at prime farmland in the watershed (see Prime Farmland section below). According to the 1997 USDA Agricultural census, 73 percent of land in the 6 county area was farmed. This figured dropped to 71 percent in the 2002 Agricultural Census. The Hybrid Land Use data in Figure 16 estimates a total of 73.5 percent agricultural land in the Darby Watershed. Approximately 85 percent of all cropland in the six county area is utilized for corn and soybeans. The data in the following Figures 32-38 are for the entire county listed and is not specific to the boundaries of the Darby Creek Watershed. (Note: In the following tables, “D” was used so that information regarding individual farms would not be disclosed.)
Source: USDA, Agricultural Census, 1997, 2002
Source: USDA, Agricultural Census, 1997, 2002
Source: USDA, Agricultural Census, 1997, 2002
Source: USDA, Agricultural Census, 1997, 2002
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