How does agriculture capability compare to the crop insurance Soil Productivity Index ratings?
Crop insurance coverage is based on a 10-category classification system for cultivated land based on soil productivity as determined by crop yields. The ratings are from A to J with A being the most productive and J the least. Each quarter section receives a single rating and the ratings are calculated based on moving average cropping data, temperature, precipitation and soil factors such as organic matter, sub-surface material, texture, drainage, depth of topsoil, topography, salinity and erosion. Ratings are modified to account for local risk factors such as frequency of drought, frost, flooding and other natural hazards. As a result, a quarter section with several soil polygons will have several agriculture capability ratings, but will always have one soil productivity index rating.
