Top 10 Highest CSR2 County Averages In Iowa

S – is the taxonomic subgroup class of the series of the soil map unit (MU),
M – is the family particle size class,
W – relates to available water holding capacity of the series
F – is the field condition of a particular MU, for example, slope, flooding, ponding, erosion class and topsoil thickness,
D – is the soil depth and tolerable rate of soil erosion,
EJ – is an expert judgment correction factor. EJ is normally used with parent materials that have very high bulk density and/or are unusually clayey or sandy.

What seems like a complex system is really not that complex.  Each of the elements considered is assigned fixed values and it becomes a matter of simple math to calculate the CSR of a given soil.  Most experienced land salesmen can calculate the particular CSR2 of a soil with just a little research.

You may have noticed when we sell a farm it has a CSR2 and its honestly not often referred to as the Average Weighted CSR2 of a farm because almost all farms are made up up at least 2 go 3 soil types and some can have many more soil types.  If each soil has its own CSR2 and a farm has multiple soil types its necessary to average the weight of each soil based on its percentage of the farm.

Below is the chart from a small 40 acre farm I have for sale right now in Guthrie County.  You can see that there are 8 soil types on the farm and that each of those soil types has its own CSR2 rating but when you combine them together on 1 farm you have to have a way to calculate the average CSR of the entire farm. 

So is it possible for a CSR2 to change from year to year?  No its not, CSR2’s are fixed values that won’t change with fertilizer application or clearing trees or anything for that matter.  In fact, CSR2 doesn’t even speak to a farms fertility like many think.  What the CSR2 is is a measure of a farms ability to be intensely farmed over a long period of time.  Should that make a difference in your purchase decisions about a farm?  Can a 40 CSR farm produce the same as a 90 CSR farm?  On an individual basis they sure can because all things are different including weather, farming methods, seed choice, crop management, temperatures, disease and pest exposure but as a rule and by the averages higher CSR farms will yield better crops.

WHAT ARE THE HIGHEST CSR COUNTY AVERAGES IN IOWA?

Here are the top 10 Iowa Counties by CSR rating ) (NOT CSR2)

• 10 Hamilton County 75.5
• 9 Marshall County 75.9
• 8 Hardin County 75.9
• 7 Greene County 76.4
• 6 Franklin County 76.8
• 5 Calhoun County 77.4
• 4 Cedar County 77.5
• 3 Story County 77.6
• 2 Mitchell County 77.7
• 1 Grundy County 84.7

The highest CSR average in the state of Iowa goes to Grundy County or what many refer to as “The Garden Spot of Iowa”   While you can see that many of the top 10 counties are in the 75.5 to 77.7 range, its a very tight right with only .1 separating 4 of the counties but Grundy County, well ahead of the pack comes in at 84.7 CSR average.

With the changes in CSR to CSR2 we saw changes in the top ranking 10 Counties in Iowa.  Notice in the new CSR2 map that was implemented in 2011 Obrien County takes over as the top spot in Iowa leaving Grundy County behind by 4.5 points.  Grundy still comes in a respectable 2nd place at 86.9 and Osceola County close behind at 86.3.    Then in line you have Buena Vista County at 83.4, Sac County at 82.8 Cherokee County at 82.2, Calhoun at 82.2, Pocahontas County at 81.2, Mitchell County at 80.9 and Humboldt at 80.3 

Are you trying to learn the CSR2 of a farm you are selling?  We are always looking for opportunities to meet and visit with people considering selling farms and help them evaluate the sale.  We can provide you soil maps and CSR2 Ratings for your farm quickly.  Drop me a line on the form to the left or below or send me an email [email protected]