🗺️ Soil Survey Lookup
Look up real soil data from USDA NRCS • Enter any address or GPS coordinates
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📍 Soil Data
Loading...💧 Drainage Class Reference
| Class | Water Table | Ag Impact | Tile Drain? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excessively Drained | Very deep (>6 ft) | Droughty, low moisture retention. Sandy soils. | No |
| Well Drained | Deep (>3 ft) | Ideal for most crops. Best row-crop land. | Rarely |
| Moderately Well | 1.5-3 ft seasonally | Good for crops, some spring wetness. | Sometimes |
| Somewhat Poorly | 1-2 ft seasonally | Spring delays, compaction risk. Tile improves. | Recommended |
| Poorly Drained | 0-1 ft seasonally | Frequent saturation. Tile required for row crops. | Required |
| Very Poorly | At/above surface | Wetland conditions. May qualify for CRP/WRP. | Major investment |
🔬 Soil Texture Classes
Sand
Very coarse, droughty, low CEC
Loamy Sand
Coarse, low retention
Sandy Loam
Good drainage, moderate nutrients
Loam ⭐
Ideal balance of sand/silt/clay
Silt Loam ⭐
Excellent cropland, high productivity
Silt
Fine, can be erosion-prone
Sandy Clay Loam
Moderate drainage, good structure
Clay Loam
Good fertility, slower drainage
Silty Clay Loam ⭐
High CEC, productive if drained
Sandy Clay
Heavy, compaction-prone
Silty Clay
Very heavy, slow drainage
Clay
Highest CEC but poorest drainage
⭐ Best for row crops: Loam, silt loam, and silty clay loam soils with good drainage generally produce the highest corn and soybean yields in the Upper Midwest.
🏆 NRCS Farmland Classifications
Prime Farmland
DefinitionBest suited for crops
DrainageWell to mod. well
Slope< 6%
Land ValueHighest
Prime if Drained
DefinitionNeeds tile drainage
DrainageSomewhat/poorly
ImprovementTile = prime quality
ROIUsually high
Farmland of Statewide Importance
DefinitionGood but not prime
LimitationsSlope, wetness, etc.
Productivity80-90% of prime
UsageRow crops & hay
Not Prime Farmland
DefinitionSignificant limitations
IssuesSteep, rocky, wet
Best UsePasture, timber, CRP
ValueLower