AFM AFM Soil & Land Management

Question 1

Which soil testing parameter is most critical for determining lime application rates on US farmland?

Accepted Answer

Soil pH

Answer

Organic matter percentage

Answer

Cation exchange capacity (CEC)

Answer

Soil texture class

Question 2

What does a Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO) primarily provide to farm managers?

Accepted Answer

Detailed soil map units and interpretations for land use planning

Answer

Crop yield history records

Answer

Fertilizer purchase recommendations

Answer

Weather data overlays

Question 3

Conservation tillage practices primarily benefit farm managers by:

Accepted Answer

Reducing soil erosion and lowering fuel and labor costs

Answer

Increasing short-term yields significantly

Answer

Eliminating the need for herbicides

Answer

Improving drainage in poorly drained fields

Question 4

A Highly Erodible Land (HEL) determination affects an AFM-managed farm primarily because:

Accepted Answer

It requires a conservation plan to maintain eligibility for USDA program benefits

Answer

It increases property tax assessments

Answer

It prohibits any row crop production

Answer

It mandates organic certification within five years

Question 5

Which practice best improves water infiltration on compacted US agricultural soils?

Accepted Answer

Subsoil tillage or deep ripping to break up plow pan

Answer

Increasing nitrogen fertilizer rates

Answer

Switching to drip irrigation

Answer

Applying potassium at higher rates

Question 6

When evaluating land productivity for leasing purposes, an AFM manager would most likely use:

Accepted Answer

Soil productivity index scores and yield history to set a fair cash rent

Answer

The county average property tax rate

Answer

The seller's asking price as the baseline

Answer

Machinery inventory value