These data are intended for cartographic use and general spatial analyses. The tract and field number for each polygon relates to the Cooperator Tracking System, a database at the Dane County Land Conservation Department that stores information for each farm with a conservation plan. The parcel maps were overlaid over the orthophotoquads on a digitizing table and the farm field and tract boundaries were digitized using parcel boundaries as a base and the parcel coordinates as control. Note that the parcels were used for control rather than the orthophotoquads - positional accuracy was sacrificed in order to match farm tract and field boundaries to parcel boundaries. In 1996, the farm tract and field coverages were converted to shapefiles.
Horizontal accuracy is highly variable in a data layer and between data layers.
Horizontal accuracy was approximated by visual comparison of the data with the 1995 digital orthophoto field boundaries. The digital data set covers 34 out of 35 civil townships in Dane County, Wisconsin. The only township missing is Madison. The data are topologically structured polygon data. Dane County and its co-producers will not be liable in any way for accuracy of the data, and assume no responsibility whatsoever for direct, indirect, special, consequential, exemplary or other damages.