© Bruce McNitt/Panoramic Images (Virginia)
Virginia Agricultural Model 2015 edition
Overview
The purpose of the Virginia Agricultural Model is to quantify the relative suitability of lands for agricultural activity. It is intended for use by state and local governments, planning districts, environmental consultants, land trusts, and others involved in land use planning and conservation prioritization.
Data Layer Description
Source
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage
What this data layer represents
The Agricultural Model was developed to display and rank lands with the greatest agricultural potential in Virginia.
Location
Commonwealth of Virginia: pixel resolution 30 meters
Description
The purpose of the Virginia Agricultural Model is to quantify the relative suitability of lands for agricultural activity. It is intended for use by state and local governments, planning districts, environmental consultants, land trusts, and others involved in land use planning and conservation prioritization.
The Virginia Agricultural Model is a raster data set in which the relative agricultural value of lands is assessed primarily based on inherent soil suitability, but also accounts for current land cover as well as travel time between agricultural producers and consumers. Model values range from 0 (unsuitable) to 100 (optimal).
How to get the data layer
Source data can be downloaded from the Virginia Natural Heritage Program website at http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/vaconvisagric.
How you might make use of this data layer
This data set provides some of the information needed for prioritizing lands that may be placed under conservation easements in the interest of sustaining agricultural values and uses. The Virginia Agricultural Model is one of several in a suite of conservation planning and prioritization models developed by the Virginia Natural Heritage Program and partners, known collectively as Virginia ConservationVision. More information on Virginia Conservation Vision can be found at http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/vaconvision.
How to get more information
For more information, visit the Virginia Natural Heritage Program website at http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/vaconvisagric.
Access and use constraints
Attribution Share Alike (BY-SA)
Credits
Hazler, K.R. and T. Tien. 2015. Virginia ConservationVision: Agricultural Model, 2015 edition. Natural Heritage Technical Report 15-13. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, Virginia. 43 pp.
Sample Map
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