Metadata for Revenue Final Land Unit (FLU) Classification, 2015

- Identification Information
- Data Quality Information
- Spatial Data Organization Information
- Spatial Reference Information
- Entity and Attribute Information
- Distribution Information
- Metadata Reference Information
- FGDC XML Metadata

Identification Information:

Citation:
  Originator: Montana Department of Revenue
  Publication date: 12/10/2015
  Title: Revenue Final Land Unit (FLU) Classification, 2015
  Publication place: Helena, MT
  Publisher: Montana State Library
  Online linkage: ftp://ftp.geoinfo.msl.mt.gov/Data/Spatial/NonMSDI/Geodatabases/revenue_flu.zip
Abstract:
  The Department of Revenue Final Land Unit Classification (FLU) is a classification of private agricultural land into one of six uses, fallow, hay, grazing, irrigated, continuously cropped and forest, with forest additionally classified as commercial or non-commercial and irrigated land classified as being flood, pivot, or sprinkler. This layer contains forested land and agricultural land that was not classified as grazing. The data are used in property valuation for agriculture and forest land on private properties. FLU data may exist in tax-exempt or public land, but no effort has been made to significantly edit, adjust, delete or enhance data to private parcel standards in exempt parcels.
  Linework was digitized, edited and updated by DOR GIS Technicians. NAIP 2005 imagery was the primary source used to delineate the features. NAIP 2006 where available, NAIP Infrared 2005 imagery, 1999-2003 Black and White DOQQ, USGS DRG, and DOR agriculture information and documentation were used as secondary sources.
  Using photo interpretation, DOR Technicians attributed each linework polygon based one of the 6 uses mentioned above. During the summer of 2006 and 2007, DOR Agriculture Appraisers field checked much of the linework and classifications. Discrepancies are documented on hardcopy maps used in the field check effort. The data was then updated based on feedback from the field check.
  In early 2009, all agriculture producers who own private parcels in the state were mailed maps of their parcels ag/forest use with instructions to return maps that were incorrectly classified. DOR GIS Techs updated the database based on the feedback from landowners, DOR Appraisers discovering classification changes during field work and/or analysis of new imagery where available.
  Since 2010 the data continues to be actively updated on an yearly basis using the most current NAIP imagery available and/or per land classification change requests from landowners and DOR county ag and forest appraisal staff. The data changes are completed by DOR GIS staff assigned to maintain specific counties. Typically, there are land classification changes on between 3,000 to 5,000 geocoded parcels each year.
  In 2010, a new classification was implemented, the "X" attribute. This classification/attribute is used for larger commercial operations such as gravel pits, golf courses, mines, etc. The delineation of a commercial features is requested by DOR county appraisers who wish to more accurately calculate certain classification acres on a parcel for certain property valuation situations. The features are digitized via photo interpretation using NAIP imagery and in consolation of DOR appraisers.
Purpose:
  The Department of Revenue Agriculture and Forest Final Land Unit Classification data (FLU) is used for property valuation for agriculture and forest land on private properties in Montana. The data is used with the NRCS SURRGO and NASIS soil databases, a DOR GIS dataset of forest productivity and the Department of Revenue statewide cadastral GIS databases to determine productivity for agriculture and forest land on priviate parcels
Time period of content:
  Calendar date: 2015
  Currentness reference: publication date
Status:
  Progress: In work
  Maintenance and update frequency: Continually
Access constraints: None
Use constraints:
  The Montana State Library provides this product/service for informational purposes only. The Library did not produce it for, nor is it suitable for legal, engineering, or surveying purposes. Consumers of this information should review or consult the primary data and information sources to ascertain the viability of the information for their purposes. The Library provides these data in good faith but does not represent or warrant its accuracy, adequacy, or completeness. In no event shall the Library be liable for any incorrect results or analysis; any direct, indirect, special, or consequential damages to any party; or any lost profits arising out of or in connection with the use or the inability to use the data or the services provided. The Library makes these data and services available as a convenience to the public, and for no other purpose. The Library reserves the right to change or revise published data and/or services at any time.
Point of contact:
  Ted Chase
  GIS Manager
  Montana Department of Revenue
  PO Box 8018
  Helena, Montana 59604-8018
  Telephone: 406-444-5586
  E-Mail: tchase@mt.gov

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Data Quality Information:

Attribute accuracy report:
  Attributes are based on photo interpretation, field verification, land owner input and other methods.

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Spatial Data Organization Information:

Point and vector object information:
  SDTS object type: G-polygon
    SDTS object count: 163142

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Spatial Reference Information:

Horizontal coordinate system definition:
  Grid coordinate system name: State Plane Coordinate System 1983
  SPCS zone identifier: 2500
  Lambert conformal conic:
  Standard parallel: 45.000000
  Standard parallel: 49.000000
  Longitude of central meridian: -109.500000
  Latitude of projection origin: 44.250000
  False easting: 600000.000000
  False northing: 0.000000
  Planar distance units: meters
  Geodetic model:
    Horizontal datum name: North American Datum of 1983
    Ellipsoid name: Geodetic Reference System 80
    Semi-major axis: 6378137.000000
    Denominator of flattening ratio: 298.257222

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Entity and Attribute Information:

Entity type label: FLU
  Attribute label: OBJECTID
    Attribute definition: Internal feature number.
  Attribute label: Shape
    Attribute definition: Feature geometry.
  Attribute label: LType
    Attribute definition: Final Land Unit Classification

    Attribute Value | Definition of Attribute Value
    F | Summer fallow farmland, a method of farming in arid and semi-arid areas without using irrigation which consists of cultivating a given area in alternate years (usually every other year), allowing moisture to be stored in the un-cropped (fallow) year. Even if grain crops are occasionally sequenced with alfalfa or other nitrogen fixing crops, the land will be classified as fallow if grain is the principle crop.
    C | Continuously cropped, a method of farming without irrigation in which crops are grown a majority of the time as part of a normal farming practice. Christmas tree plantation and fruit orchards are classified as continuously cropped farmland. There are wheat fields in northwest Montana also classified as continuously cropped.
    H | Non-irrigated hay land, method of farming whereby hay is cut a majority of the years. Native vegetation cut for hay yearly or majority of the time over a period of years. Non-irrigated alfalfa and other domestic varieties cut for hay yearly or the majority of the time
    I | Irrigated land, a method of farming that uses man-made water delivery systems to apply water to hayland or cropland to increase production. All hay land and cropland that is irrigated a majority of the time over the long term (2 out of 3 years, 3 out of 5 years, 4 out of 7 years, etc.) All agricultural land, including grazing land in a specified irrigation district where the land is designated as irrigable with shares of the water appurtenant to such land shall be classified as irrigated, regardless whether the water is actually applied or not applied to the land. Land in an irrigation district that is not designated as irrigable by the district and is not charged an irrigation fee, is classified according to its current use. Land that has water available for irrigation most years is classified as irrigated if the water is used. Land that has water for irrigation most years, but the water is not utilized, is not classified as irrigated. These lands are classified according to their current use.
    T | Forest land, defined by statue as contiguous land of 15 acres or more in one ownership that is capable of producing timber that can be harvested in commercial quantity and is producing timber unless the trees have been removed by disaster. Commercial means forest land that exceeds 15 contiguous acres of timber capable of producing 100 board feet/acre/year of commercially usable wood. Strips of forest less than 120 feet in width are nonforest. Covenants restricting timber harvesting preclude forest land classification, however conservation easements do not.
    N | Noncommercial forest land due to species type (ie., aspen, cottonwood, juniper, limber pine, etc) Forested land that does not meet the minimum forest productivity requirement (currently 100 board feet/acre/year) is also considered non-commercial forest. Non-commercial forestland due to productivity, is determined in subsequent processes and not part of this dataset. Forest land means land that includes commercial forest land that is at least 10 percent stocked by trees of any size and capable of producing timber or other wood products. Land in which the timber has been harvested below 10 percent stocking, but forest growth will regenerate within seven years.
    X | Commercial land such as gravel pits, vacation lodges, ski areas, mines, employee housing and many other commercial businesses. The areas are delineated at the request of DOR appraisers for valuation purposes. There is no statewide effort to collect all these features.

  Attribute label: IType
    Attribute definition: Irrigation type or forest classification/productivity

    Attribute Value | Definition of Attribute Value
    p | pivot irrigation
    s | sprinkler irrigation
    f | flood irrigation

  Attribute label: Shape_Length
    Attribute definition: Perimeter of feature in meters.
  Attribute label: Shape_Area
    Attribute definition: Area of feature in square meters.
  Attribute label: CO
    Attribute definition: County Number

    Attribute Value | Definition of Attribute Value
    1 to 56 | Value used to select FLU data specific to a county

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Distribution Information:

Distributor:
  Montana State Library
  PO Box 201800
  Helena, MT 59620-1800
  Telephone: 406-444-5354
  TDD/TTY telephone: 406-444-4799
  Fax: 406-444-0266
  E-Mail: geoinfo@mt.gov
Resource description: Downloadable Data
Distribution liability:
  The Montana State Library provides this product/service for informational purposes only. The Library did not produce it for, nor is it suitable for legal, engineering, or surveying purposes. Consumers of this information should review or consult the primary data and information sources to ascertain the viability of the information for their purposes. The Library provides these data in good faith but does not represent or warrant its accuracy, adequacy, or completeness. In no event shall the Library be liable for any incorrect results or analysis; any direct, indirect, special, or consequential damages to any party; or any lost profits arising out of or in connection with the use or the inability to use the data or the services provided. The Library makes these data and services available as a convenience to the public, and for no other purpose. The Library reserves the right to change or revise published data and/or services at any time.
Standard order process:
  Digital form:
    Format name: ESRI personal geodatabase
    Online option:
    ftp://ftp.geoinfo.msl.mt.gov/Data/Spatial/NonMSDI/Geodatabases/revenue_flu.zip

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Metadata Reference Information:

Metadata date: 12/10/2015
Metadata review date: 05/09/2012
Metadata contact:
  Ted Chase
  GIS Manager
  Montana Department of Revenue
  PO Box 8018
  Helena, Montana 59604-8018
  Telephone: 406-444-5586

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