Top 50 Questions About Farmland
What Is a CSR Score?
In Iowa, farmland productivity is commonly measured using the Crop Suitability Rating (CSR) or its updated version, CSR2. As a result, this score helps estimate a tract’s potential for crop production on a scale of 0.5 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater productivity.
Key Facts About CSR Scores
- Introduced: Iowa State University developed CSR in 1978 and later updated it to CSR2 in 2015.
- Key Factors: Soil type, slope, topography, and water-holding capacity all influence the score.
- CSR2 Update: In addition, CSR2 improves accuracy by incorporating water-holding capacity.
- Why It Matters: Government agencies such as USDA and FSA actively use CSR2 when evaluating farmland value.
Why CSR2 Is Important for Sellers
Knowing your farm’s CSR2 score helps demonstrate productivity and marketability.
Because of this, buyers rely on CSR2 data to compare land quality, making it an important tool for pricing and negotiations.
Key Takeaways
- CSR2 scores range from 0.5 to 100, and higher scores reflect stronger productivity.
- For example, soil characteristics, water-holding capacity, and topography directly influence the score.
- Ultimately, land professionals and government agencies use CSR2 to support farmland valuation.
Therefore, if you want more insight into your land’s potential or help determining your CSR2 score, contact
David Whitaker – Iowa Land Guy today.
David Whitaker |
Iowa Land Guy
