IMPORTANT FARMLAND SOIL MAP UNITS IN MASSACHUSETTS

Link to National Soil Survey Handbook Section
Title 7 Code Definition
Unofficial Massachusetts List

Official prime and State-wide Important farmland map units can be found (some states do not have this information posted) in Section II of the electronic Field Office Technical Guide for the State you are interested in: Connecticut | Maine | Massachusetts | New Hampshire | Rhode Island | Vermont | Other States | This information is also found on the Soil Data Mart site.

(NOTE: This list is currently being revised, please contact Bill Taylor for more information - 508-829-6628 x111)

To use this list, note the soil map unit name listed in the map unit legend from the publsihed soil survey you are using, such as Woodbridge fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes. The map unit symbol (WrA, 310A, etc.) may be different for each County survey so make sure you note it correctly, also note the map unit phase - a very stony Woodbridge soil map unit is NOT prime while a Woodbridge (non stony) IS prime.

Link to Prime Farmland List

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General Criteria

State or local important farmland soils are those that fail to meet one or more of the requirements of prime farmland, but are important for the production of food, feed, fiber or forage crops. They include those soils that are nearly prime farmland and that economically produce high yields of crops when treated or managed according to acceptable farming methods. Some may produce as high a yield as prime farmlands if conditions are favorable.

In some local areas, there is concern for certain additional farmlands for the production of food, feed, fiber, forage, and oilseed crops, even though these lands are not identified as having national or statewide importance. Where appropriate, these lands are to be identified by the local agency or agencies concerned. In places, additional farmlands of local importance may include tracts of land that have been designated for agriculture by local ordinance.

Specific Criteria

The following are used to define soils in Massachusetts that are of state or local importance for farmland.

  • 1. Soils on slopes that would otherwise qualify as prime farmland except the percent slope times the K factor is greater than 2 but less than 4.2.
     
  • 2. Soils that meet the requirements for prime farmland or item 1 above except that they have an available water capacity of 3 to 3 inches in MLRA's 143, 144B and 145, and 2 to 3.5 inches in MLRA's 144A and 149.
     
  • 3. Stony and very stony soils (1 to 3 percent stone cover) that satisfy ALL other requirements for prime or state or local important farmland.
     
  • 4. Soils having capability class I, II, or III and meet all other criteria.
    •

    Unique farmland.

    (1) This is land, in addition to prime and unique farmlands, that is of statewide importance for the production of food, feed, fiber, forage, and oil seed crops. Criteria for defining and delineating this land are to be determined by the appropriate state agency or agencies. Generally, additional farmlands of statewide importance include those that are nearly prime farmland and that economically produce high yields of crops when treated and managed according to acceptable farming methods. Some may produce as high a yield as prime farmlands if conditions are favorable. In some states, additional farmlands of statewide importance may include tracts of land that have been designated for agriculture by state law.

    (2) Specific characteristics of unique farmland.

    (i) Is used for a specific high-value food or fiber crop.

    (ii) Has a moisture supply that is adequate for the specific crop. The supply is from stored moisture, precipitation, or a developed irrigation system.

    (iii) Combines favorable factors of soil quality, growing season, temperature, humidity, air drainage, elevation, aspect, or other conditions, such as nearness to market, that favor the growth of a specific food or fiber crop.

    A

    Mapping units used in Massachusetts that are farmland of state or local importance

    Agawan fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Agawam fine sandy loam, silty substratum, 8-20 percent slopes

    Amenia fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Amenia silt loam, 3-8 percent slopes, very stony

    Amenia silt loam, 8-15 percent slopes, very stony

    B

    Mapping units used in Massachusetts that are farmland of state or local importance

    Barnstable sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Barnstable sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Barnstable sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes, very stony

    Barnstable sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes, very stony

    Barnstable-Plymouth complex, rolling

    Belgrade very fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Belgrade silt loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Berkshire loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Berkshire fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Berkshire fine sandy loam, dark subsoil, 8-15 percent slopes

    Berkshire very stony fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Berkshire very stony fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Berkshire very stony fine sandy loam, dark subsoil, 0-3 percent slopes

    Berkshire very stony fine sandy loam, dark subsoil, 3-8 percent slopes

    Berkshire very stony fine sandy loam, dark subsoil, 8-15 percent slopes

    Bernardston silt loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Bernardston channery silt loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Bernardston very stony silt loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Bernardston very stony silt loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Birchwood loamy sand, 8-15 percent slopes

    Birchwood very stony loamy sand, 0-3 percent slopes

    Birchwood very stony loamy sand, 3-8 percent slopes

    Birchwood very stony loamy sand, 8-15 percent slopes

    Boxford silt loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Broadbrook very fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Broadbrook gravelly silt loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Broadbrook very stony very fine sandy loam, 3-15 percent slopes

    Broadbrook very stony silt loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Broadbrook very stony silt loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Brookfield fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Brookfield very stony fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Brookfield very stony fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Brookfield fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes, very stony

    Brookfield fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes, very stony

    Buckland fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Buckland very stony fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Buckland very stony fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Buxton silt loam, 3-10 percent slopes

    Buxton silt loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    C

    Mapping units used in Massachusetts that are farmland of state or local importance

    Canton fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Canton fine sandy loam, 8-20 percent slopes

    Canton stony fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Canton stony fine sandy loam, 9-15 percent slopes

    Canton very stony fine sandy loam, 0-3 percent slopes

    Canton very stony fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Canton very stony fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Canton-Montauk-Plymouth complex, rolling

    Charlton fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Charlton fine sandy loam, 8-20 percent slopes

    Charlton stony fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Charlton stony fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Charlton very stony fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes 1/

    Charlton very stony fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes 1/

    Charlton fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes, very stony

    Charlton fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes, very stony

    Charlton very stony fine sandy loam, 3-15 percent slopes

    Charlton-Paxton very stony fine sandy loam, 0-8 percent slopes

    Charlton-Paxton very stony fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Cheshire fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Cheshire very stony fine sandy loam, 0-8 percent slopes

    Cheshire very stony fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Chilmark sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Chilmark stony sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Chilmark stony sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Colrain fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Colrain very stony fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Colrain very stony fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Copake fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    D

    Mapping units used in Massachusetts that are farmland of state or local importance

    Deerfield sandy loam

    Deerfield sandy loam, 0-3 percent slopes

    Deerfield sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Deerfield loamy fine sand

    Deerfield loamy fine sand, 0-3 percent slopes

    Deerfield loamy fine sand, 0-5 percent slopes

    Deerfield loamy fine sand, 0-6 percent slopes

    Deerfield loamy fine sand, 3-8 percent slopes

    Deerfield loamy sand

    Deerfield loamy sand, 0-3 percent slopes

    Deerfield loamy sand, 0-5 percent slopes

    Deerfield loamy sand, 3-8 percent slopes

    Deerfield loamy coarse sand, 0-5 percent slopes

    Dutchess silt loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Dutchess silt loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Dutchess very stony silt loam, 3-15 percent slopes

    E

    Mapping units used in Massachusetts that are farmland of state or local importance

    Eastchop fine sand, 0-3 percent slopes

    Eastchop fine sand, 3-8 percent slopes

    Eastchop loamy sand, 0-3 percent slopes

    Eastchop loamy sand, 3-8 percent slopes

    Eastchop stony loamy sand, 3-8 percent slopes

    Enfield very fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Enfield silt loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Essex fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Essex fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Essex fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes, very stony

    Essex fine sandy loam, 9-15 percent slopes, very stony

    Essex very stony fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Essex very stony fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Essex coarse sandy loam, 0-3 percent slopes

    Essex coarse sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Essex coarse sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Essex very stony coarse sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Essex very stony coarse sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Evesboro sand, 0-3 percent slopes

    Evesboro sand, 3-8 percent slopes

    F

    Mapping units used in Massachusetts that are farmland of state or local importance

    Fullam-Lanesboro association, rolling, very stony

    G

    Mapping units used in Massachusetts that are farmland of state or local importance

    Gloucester fine sandy loam, 0-3 percent slopes

    Gloucester fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Gloucester fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Gloucester sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Gloucester sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Gloucester gravelly fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Gloucester gravelly fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Gloucester stony fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Gloucester stony fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Gloucester very stony fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes 1/

    Gloucester very stony fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes 1/

    Gloucester fine sandy loam, firm substratum, 0-3 percent slopes

    Gloucester fine sandy loam, firm substratum, 3-8 percent slopes

    Gloucester fine sandy loam, firm substratum, 8-15 percent slopes

    Gloucester very stony fine sandy loam, firm substratum, 3-8 percent slopes

    Gloucester very stony fine sandy loam, firm substratum, 8-15 percent slopes

    Gloucester-Hinckley complex, undulating

    Gloucester-Hinckley complex, very stony, undulating

    H

    Mapping units used in Massachusetts that are farmland of state or local importance

    Hadley silt loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Hadley very fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Hadley very fine sandy loam, high bottom, 3-6 percent slopes

    Hartland silt loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Hartland very fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Haven very fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Haven very fine sandy loam, 8-20 percent slopes

    Hinckley sandy loam, 0-3 percent slopes

    Hinckley sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Hinckley gravelly fine sandy loam, 0-3 percent slopes

    Hinckley gravelly fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Hinckley gravelly very fine sandy loam, 0-3 percent slopes

    Hinckley gravelly very fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Hinckley loamy sand, 0-3 percent slopes

    Hinckley loamy sand, 3-8 percent slopes

    Hinesburg sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Hinesburg loamy sand, 8-15 percent slopes

    Hollis fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Holyoke very fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Hoosic channery fine sandy loam, 0-3 percent slopes

    Hoosic channery fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Hoosic channery fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    K

    Mapping units used in Massachusetts that are farmland of state or local importance

    Klej loamy coarse, sandy substratum, sand, 0-5 percent slopes

    Klej and Pompton soils

    L

    Mapping units used in Massachusetts that are farmland of state or local importance

    Ludlow very stony loam, 0-8 percent slopes

    M

    Mapping units used in Massachusetts that are farmland of state or local importance

    Marlow loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Marlow loam, dark subsoil, 8-15 percent slopes

    Marlow very stony loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Marlow very stony loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Marlow very stony loam, dark subsoil, 3-8 percent slopes

    Marlow very stony loam, dark subsoil, 8-15 percent slopes

    Meckesville loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Meckesville very stony loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Meckesville very stony loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Merrimac fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Merrimac sandy loam, 0-3 percent slopes 1/

    Merrimac sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes 1/

    Merrimac sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Montauk fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Montauk stony fine sandy loam, 3-15 percent slopes

    Montauk very stony fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes (Not state or local important farmland in Hampshire County, central part).

    Montauk very stony fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes (Not state or local important farmland in Hampshire County, central part)

    Montauk fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes, very stony (Not state or local important farmland in Hampshire County, central part)

    Montauk fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes, very stony (Not state or local important farmland in Hampshire County, central part)

    Moshup loam, 0-3 percent slopes

    Moshup loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Moshup stony loam, 0-8 percent slopes

    N

    Mapping units used in Massachusetts that are farmland of state or local importance

    Nantucket sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Nantucket fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Nantucket stony sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Nantucket stony sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Nantucket sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes, stony

    Nantucket sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes, stony

    Nantucket-Plymouth complex, rolling

    Nantucket-Plymouth complex, undulating, very stony

    Nantucket-Plymouth complex, rolling, very stony

    Narragansett very fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Narragansett very stony very fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Narragansett very stony very fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Nellis loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Nellis loam, 3-8 percent slopes, very stony

    Nellis loam, 8-15 percent slopes, very stony

    Newport silt loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Newport very stony loam, 3-15 percent slopes

    O

    Mapping units used in Massachusetts that are farmland of state or local importance

    Oakvale loamy sand, 0-3 percent slopes

    Oakvale loamy sand, 3-8 percent slopes

    P

    Mapping units used in Massachusetts that are farmland of state or local importance

    Paxton fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Paxton stony fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Paxton stony fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Paxton very stony fine sandy loam, 0-8 percent slopes

    Paxton very stony fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes (Not state or local important farmland in Hampshire County, central part.)

    Paxton very stony fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes (Not state or local important farmland in Hampshire County, central part.)

    Peru loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Peru very stony loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Peru very stony loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Pittsfield loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Pittsfield loam, 3-8 percent slopes, very stony

    Pittsfield loam, 8-15 percent slopes, very stony

    Pittstown very stony loam, 0-8 percent slopes

    Pittstown very stony silt loam, 3-15 percent slopes

    Pollux fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Pompton sandy loam, 0-3 percent slopes

    Poquonock loamy sand, 8-15 percent slopes

    Poquonock stony loamy sand, 3-15 percent slopes

    Poquonock very stony loamy sand, 0-3 percent slopes

    Poquonock very stony loamy sand, 3-8 percent slopes

    Poquonock very stony loamy sand, 8-15 percent slopes

    R

    Mapping units used in Massachusetts that are farmland of state or local importance

    Riverhead sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    S

    Mapping units used in Massachusetts that are farmland of state or local importance

    Scio silt loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Scituate fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Scituate very stony fine sandy loam, 0-3 percent slopes

    Scituate very stony fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes (Not state or local important farmland in Hampshire County, central part.)

    Scituate very stony fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes (Not state or local important farmland in Hampshire County, central part.)

    Scituate very stony fine sandy loam, 0-8 percent slopes

    Shelburne loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Shelburne very stony loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Shelburne very stony loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Stockbridge gravelly silt loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Stockbridge gravelly silt loam, 8-15 percent slopes, very stony

    Suffield silt loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Suncook loamy fine sand

    Suncook loamy fine sand, 0-5 percent slopes

    Suncook loamy sand

    Sutton fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Sutton fine sandy loam, 8-20 percent slopes

    Sutton very stony fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Sutton very stony fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    T

    Mapping units used in Massachusetts that are farmland of state or local importance

    Tisbury very fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    U

    Mapping units used in Massachusetts that are farmland of state or local importance

    Unadilla very fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    W

    Mapping units used in Massachusetts that are farmland of state or local importance

    Warwick fine sandy loam, 0-3 percent slopes (Only in MLRA 144A, 149B).

    Warwick fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes (Only in MLRA 144A, 149B).

    Warwick fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Warwick gravelly loam, 0-3 percent slopes (Not state or local important farmland in Hampshire County, central part.)

    Warwick gravelly loam, 3-8 percent slopes (Not state or local important farmland in Hampshire County, central part.)

    Warwick gravelly loam 8-15 percent slopes

    Warwick gravelly fine sandy loam, 0-3 percent slopes

    Warwick gravelly fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Warwick gravelly fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Westminster loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Wethersfield fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Wethersfield stony fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Wethersfield stony fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Wethersfield very stony fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes (Not state or local important farmland in Hampshire County, central part.)

    Wethersfield very stony fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes (Not state or local important farmland in Hampshire County, central part.)

    Windsor fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Windsor loamy sand, 0-3 percent slopes

    Windsor loamy sand, 3-8 percent slopes

    Windsor loamy sand, silty substratum, 0-3 percent slopes

    Windsor loamy sand, silty substratum, 3-8 percent slopes

    Windsor loamy fine sand, 0-3 percent slopes

    Windsor loamy fine sand, 3-8 percent slopes

    Windsor very stony loamy sand, 0-3 percent slopes

    Windsor very stony loamy sand, 3-8 percent slopes

    Mapping units used in Massachusetts that are farmland of state or local importance

    Woodbridge fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Woodbridge stony fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Woodbridge stony fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes

    Woodbridge very stony fine sandy loam, 0-3 percent slopes

    Woodbridge very stony fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes (Not state or local important farmland in Hampshire County, central part.)

    Woodbridge very stony fine sandy loam, 8-15 percent slopes (Not state or local important farmland in Hampshire County, central part.)

    Woodbridge very stony fine sandy loam, 0-8 percent slopes

    Woodbridge fine sandy loam, 0-3 percent slopes, very stony

    Woodbridge fine sandy loam, 3-8 percent slopes, very stony

    Woodbridge Variant loam, 0-3 percent slopes

    Woodbridge Variant loam, 3-8 percent slopes

    Link to Prime Farmland List

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