Southeast Alabama Agriculture Statistics

The Land
   There are an estimated 1.7 million acres of land in the district area classified as prime farmland. This represents nearly 40 % of the total land area in the district. The Alabama Soil Conservation Service describes prime farmland as "land that has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, fuel, fiber, forage and oilseed crops and is available for these uses. It has the soil quality, growing season, and moisture supply needed to economically produce sustained high yields of crops when treated and managed according to acceptable farming methods".

   Some factors considered in classifying prime farmland are adequate soil moisture, favorable temperature and growing season, acceptable pH, few or no rocks, not excessively erodable, not saturated with water for long periods of time, and not prone to frequent flooding during the growing season.