Web Soil Survey to be Featured at ICA Convention Trade Show

Ranchers Will Learn How to Utilize Free Program at NRCS Booth

May 20, 2009 - Ranchers, land managers and others attending the upcoming Independent Cattlemen’s Association Convention and Trade Show in San Marcos on June 18-19 will have the opportunity to learn about available technical and financial assistance programs through the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and also have a hands-on demonstration and learn how to use the free online Web Soil Survey (WSS) at the NRCS/Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) booth.

Most all of the counties in Texas have been mapped and all soils have been identified and the data is available free of charge online on the Web Soil Survey at http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app and the Soil Data Mart at http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov. A soil survey is a detailed report on the soils of an area. The soil survey has maps with soil boundaries and photos, descriptions, and tables of soil properties and features.

WSS can assist landowners in making decisions relative to farming and ranching operations, for example, differences in ecological sites and the plants capable of growing on that site, erosive soils, which soil sites will produce the greatest benefit from aerial spraying or other brush management practices.

“Interp maps provided through WSS can help the producer determine yield potentials when planting crops and implementing pasture and hayland plantings,” said Nathan Haile, NRCS soil scientist for the Weatherford Zone office. “The WSS can help producers maintain profits, while reducing erosion, and improving soil and water quality.”

WSS can also provide landowners and agricultural producers with aerial photos, topography maps, and measuring tools to help them manage their resources. Users also have the ability save and print information and maps, free of charge, day or night.

“We will have the capability at the booth to assist producers with WSS and the ‘how-to's’ of the program,” said Kent Ferguson, NRCS state rangeland management specialist. “The biggest link is the soils to the ecological site to the planning aspect of each producer’s ranch.”

Uses of the WSS include building sites, conservation plans, erosion control, farm and ranch appraisals, nutrient management, pipelines, range management, identification of risks and hazards, road building, water conservation, wetlands and wildlife management.


If you are unable to attend the convention trade show, but would like more information about conservation planning, technical and financial assistance programs, visit the NRCS Web site at www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov or contact NRCS at your local USDA Service Center, listed in phone directories under U.S. Government.
 

Contact

Melissa Blair, 361-241-0609
 

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