Whether you’re a new farmer, or you’ve been farming for years, a Web Soil Survey (WSS) allows you to obtain a wealth of information about a property that you may be considering buying, renting, or looking to manage more efficiently.
What Is a WSS?
The WSS is a web application that’s operated by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and provides users with access to the largest natural resource information system in the world so that they can make informed land-use and management decisions. Information on things like crop productivity classes, soil drainage, depth to bedrock, and other geography-related data about a property, can be retrieved.
How Do You Use the Web Application?
You can explore the characteristics of a property by entering its address into the WSS system and, using the system’s graphical interface, zooming into the portion of the land that you want to survey. You then outline that portion of the property to create an area of interest, or AOI. Once your AOI is identified, there are tabs that offer specifics about the soil and the property. Here are a few of those tabs:
The Soil Map tab allows you to see the soil types in your area of interest, which is broken down by acre.
The Soil Data Explorer tab provides land classifications and info on vegetative productivity. And if you’re considering building a pond, this tab can even suggest areas on the property where the soils are better suited for ponds, in order to prevent issues like seepage.
The Land Management tab can show the limitations associated with installing fencing on the property.
After you’ve finished your inquiries, the WSS system allows you to print out a custom report or save a PDF of your research.
Are You Buying a Home or Land for Sale in Lake City?
If you’re moving to Lake City, we can help you find the perfect place to live. Call us at 386-243-0124 to tell us what you want from your home and we will begin searching right away.
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