Farmland - SCAG Region

Farmland information was obtained from the Farmland Mapping & Monitoring Program (FMMP) in the Division of Land Resource Protection in the California Department of Conservation. Established in 1982, the FMMP is to provide consistent and impartial data and analysis of agricultural land use and land use changes throughout the State of California. The study area is in accordance to the soil survey developed by NRCS (National Resources Conservation Service) in the United States Department of Agriculture. Important Farmland Map is biennially updated based on a computer mapping system, aerial imagery, public review, and field interpretation. NOTES: This data was reviewed by local jurisdictions and reflects each jurisdiction's input received during the SCAG's 2020 RTP/SCS Local Input and Envisioning Process.The updated Farmland categories are contained in 'polygon_ty' field. For more information, refer to the website at http://www.conservation.ca.gov/dlrp/fmmp/Pages/Index.aspx.PRIME FARMLAND (P)Farmland with the best combination of physical and chemical features able to sustain long term agricultural production. This land has the soil quality, growing season, and moisture supply needed to produce sustained high yields. Land must have been used for irrigated agricultural production at some time during the four years prior to the mapping date.FARMLAND OF STATEWIDE IMPORTANCE (S)Farmland similar to Prime Farmland but with minor shortcomings, such as greater slopes or less ability to store soil moisture. Land must have been used for irrigated agricultural production at some time during the four years prior to the mapping date.UNIQUE FARMLAND (U)Farmland of lesser quality soils used for the production of the state's leading agricultural crops. This land is usually irrigated, but may include non-irrigated orchards or vineyards as found in some climatic zones in California. Land must have been cropped at some time during the four years prior to the mapping date.FARMLAND OF LOCAL IMPORTANCE (L) Land of importance to the local agricultural economy as determined by each county's board of supervisors and a local advisory committee. GRAZING LAND (G)Land on which the existing vegetation is suited to the grazing of livestock. This category was developed in cooperation with the California Cattlemen's Association, University of California Cooperative Extension, and other groups interested in the extent of grazing activities. The minimum mapping unit for Grazing Land is 40 acres.URBAN AND BUILT-UP LAND (D)Land occupied by structures with a building density of at least 1 unit to 1.5 acres, or approximately 6 structures to a 10-acre parcel. This land is used for residential, industrial, commercial, institutional, public administrative purposes, railroad and other transportation yards, cemeteries, airports, golf courses, sanitary landfills, sewage treatment, water control structures, and other developed purposes.OTHER LAND (X)Land not included in any other mapping category. Common examples include low density rural developments; brush, timber, wetland, and riparian areas not suitable for livestock grazing; confined livestock, poultry or aquaculture facilities; strip mines, borrow pits; and water bodies smaller than 40 acres. Vacant and nonagricultural land surrounded on all sides by urban development and greater than 40 acres is mapped as Other Land.The Rural Land Mapping Project provides more detail on the distribution of various land uses within the Other Land category. The Rural Land categories include:Rural Residential Land (R), Semi-Agricultural and Rural Commercial Land (sAC), Vacant or Disturbed Land (V), Confined Animal Agriculture (Cl), and Nonagricultural or Natural Vegetation (nv).WATER (W)Perennial water bodies with an extent of at least 40 acres.NOT SURVEYED (Z)Large government land holdings, including National Parks, Forests, and Bureau of Land Management holdings are not included in FMMP’s survey area.