Farmers, landowners and others who use soils information to make land-use decisions can go on-line with a new Internet tool known as the Web Soil Survey, says Steve Chick, NRCS state conservationist in Lincoln.

The free tool, which can be found at websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/, provides users with electronic access to soil survey information such as digital soil maps, soil properties and soil qualities.

Using the online Web Soil Survey is a three-step process that involves defining an area of interest, viewing and printing the soil map and exploring relevant soil data, Chick says.

Step one involves using county or address search options to find a specific geographic location. Step two allows users to see the map area they have defined and then generate a printable map in an easy-to-read Adobe Acrobat format. Step three lets the user find out more detailed information about the soils in their area of interest.

Cameron Loerch, NRCS state soil scientist, says that crop producers can find their soils' water-holding capacity in order to determine which crops will grow best on that soil or to help them make irrigation management decisions.

Loerch recommends using high-speed Internet when accessing the Web Soil Survey. People who don't have Internet access can get Web Soil Survey information from their local NRCS field office or by going to the local library.

"It is important to note that once all the soil maps for the country have been digitized and imported into the Web Soil Survey, the traditional hardcopy publications will be phased out," Loerch says. "Currently, soil survey information for all Nebraska counties is available on the Web Soil Survey."

Visit websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app and click on "Web Soil Survey – How to Use It."