### Stratification of Minnesota 2009

Metadata also available as - [Outline] - [Parseable text]

#### Frequently-anticipated questions:

- What does this data set describe?
  1. How should this data set be cited?
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
- Who produced the data set?
  1. Who are the originators of the data set?
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
- Why was the data set created?
- How was the data set created?
  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
- How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?
  1. How well have the observations been checked?
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the data, including topology?
- How can someone get a copy of the data set?
  1. Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
  2. Who distributes the data?
  3. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
  4. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
  5. How can I download or order the data?
- Who wrote the metadata?

### What does this data set describe?

Title: Stratification of Minnesota 2009
Abstract:
  The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) area sampling frame is a delineation of all parcels of land for the purpose of later sampling the parcels. The area frame is constructed by visually interpreting satellite imagery to divide a state into homogenous land use areas (strata) based on percent cultivated. The strata are typically defined as low, medium or high percent cultivated, non-agricultural land, urban use, agri-urban, or water. The boundaries of the strata usually follow identifiable features such as roads, railroads and waterways. The strata boundaries do not coincide with any political boundaries, with the exception of state boundaries.
Supplemental_Information: N/A

1. How should this data set be cited?

   > United States Department of Agr, National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2009, Stratification of Minnesota 2009: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Fairfax, Virginia.

   > Online Links:

   > - <http://www.nass.usda.gov/research>

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -97.24
   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -89.49
   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 49.38
   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 43.50

3. What does it look like?

4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

   Calendar_Date: 2010
   Currentness_Reference: N/A

5. What is the general form of this data set?

6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

   1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      Indirect_Spatial_Reference:
        U.S. Department of Commerce, 1990, Counties and Equivalent Entities of The United States, Its Possessions, and Associated Areas (Federal Information Processing Standard 6-4): Washington, D.C. National Institute of Standards and Technology.
      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):
      - G-Polygon (11,950)

   2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest Decimal Degrees. Longitudes are given to the nearest Decimal Degrees.

      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983.
      The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference 80.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.00.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257.

7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

   `Land Use Strata`
     Homogeneous land use area based on percent cultivated (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service)

     `Strata`
       Land use category based on percent cultivated (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service)

       Value | Definition
       --- | ---
       11 |
            75% cultivated, (cultivated categories consist of land used for
       crops, the remaining portion of land in the cultivated strata may include pasture, woods, waste, rangeland, etc.)
       12 | 51-75% cultivated, (cultivated categories consist of land used for crops, the remaining portion of land in the cultivated strata may include pasture, woods, waste, rangeland, etc.)
       20 | 15-50% cultivated, (cultivated categories consist of land used for crops, the remaining portion of land in the cultivated strata may include pasture, woods, waste, rangeland, etc.)
       31 | Agri-Urban: >100 Homes/Square Mile
       32 | Commercial: >100 Homes/Square Mile
       40 | <15% Cultivated
       50 | Non-Agricultural

     `Sum_area`
       The stratum area in square miles. (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service)

       Range of values
       Minimum: | 165.04 (actual value, not range)
       Maximum: | 105,625 (actual value, not range)

     `Sum_acres`
       The amount of acres in a stratum. (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service)

       Range of values
       Minimum: | 30,165.73
       Maximum: | 19,306,059 (actual value, not range)

### Who produced the data set?

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)

   - United States Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural

2. Who also contributed to the data set?

   > Area Frame Section staff

3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

   > Matt Deaton
   > USDA/NASS/RDD/AFS
   > 3251 Old Lee Highway, Suite 301
   > Fairfax, VA 22030

   > 703-877-8000 (voice)
   > HQ_RD_OD@nass.usda.gov

### Why was the data set created?

> These data are intended for geographic display and analysis at the state level. The data should be displayed and analyzed at a scale of 1:100,000 or smaller (e.g., 1:250,000, etc.). The strata data are provided "as is". USDA/NASS does not warrant results you may obtain using the strata data.

### How was the data set created?

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

   TopoDRG100 (source 1 of 6)

     > U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS), 1979 - 1991, USGS Topographic Quadrangles: U.S. Geologic Survey, Reston, VA.

     Type_of_Source_Media: On-line
     Source_Scale_Denominator: 100000
     Source_Contribution: Spatial and attribute information

   NAIP (source 2 of 6)

     > Agency, Farm Service , 2005 - 2007, National Aerial Imaging Program (NAIP): Aerial Photography Field Office (APFO), Salt Lake City, UT.

     Type_of_Source_Media: On-line
     Source_Scale_Denominator:
       1 meter resolution (2003) and 2 Meter Resolution (2004, 2005 and 2006)
     Source_Contribution: Spatial and attribute information

   TopoDRG24 (source 3 of 6)

     > U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), 1979 - 1991, USGS Topographic Quadrangles: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

     Type_of_Source_Media: On-line
     Source_Scale_Denominator: 24000
     Source_Contribution: Spatial and attribute information

   TIGER (source 4 of 6)

     > United States Census Bureau, 2000, TIGER Digital Vector Files: U.S. Census Bureau, Suitland, MD.

     Type_of_Source_Media: On-line
     Source_Contribution: Spatial and attribute information

   TM5 (source 5 of 6)

     > Imaging, Space, 2006, 2007 and 2008, Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper Imagery: NASA, Lanham, MD.

     Type_of_Source_Media: On-line
     Source_Contribution: Spatial and attribute information

   AFSPaper (source 6 of 6)

     > National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2008, Area Frame Design for Agricultural Surveys: NASS/USDA, Washington, DC.

     Type_of_Source_Media: Paper
     Source_Contribution: Spatial and attribute information

2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

   Date: 2008 (process 1 of 1)
     The area sampling frame for Minnesota was constructed for use in 2009 and was based on USGS 1:24,000 and 1:100,000 scale topographic maps, 1:250,000 scale digital Landsat imagery, and 1 and 2 meter resolution NAIP imagery. Individual county files were merged into single statefile. The coordinates for the strata polygons are unprojected to geographic latitude and longitude (decimal degrees). The spatial data file format is Environmental Systems Research Institute's ArcView shapefile format. The shapefile was checked and edited for topology in 1998. Gaps and overlaps were corrected within and ESRI personal geodatabase.

     Data sources used in this process:

     - TopoDRG100
     - NAIP
     - TopoDRG24
     - TIGER
     - TM5
     - AFSPaper

3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

### How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

1. How well have the observations been checked?

2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

   The sources used for digitizing strata boundaries are 1:100,000 scale Digital Raster Graphics

3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

   There are known gaps and overlaps. This data set includes the area in square miles and number of acres for each strata. Boundaries may not be coincident with strata boundaries of adjacent states.

5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

   Checks for topological consistency were performed on this data set.

### How can someone get a copy of the data set?

> Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

> > Access_Constraints: None
> > Use_Constraints:
> >   None. Acknowledgment of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service would be appreciated in products derived from these data.

1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)

   > USDA/NASS/RDD/GIB/AFS
   > 3251 Old Lee Highway, Suite 301
   > Fairfax, VA 22030

   > 703-877-8000 (voice)

   > Contact_Instructions: N/A

2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

   > Users of the strata data are solely responsible for interpretations made from the product. The strata data are provided "as is". USDA/NASS does not warrant results you may obtain by using the strata data. Feel free to contact our staff at (HQ_RD_OD@nass.usda.gov) if technical questions arise in the use of the strata data.

4. How can I download or order the data?

   - Availability in digital form:

     Data format: | ESRI Shapefile
     Network links: | <http://www.nass.usda.gov/research>

   - Cost to order the data: There is no charge for the online option.

   - Special instructions:

     > N/A

### Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
  Last modified: 19-Dec-2013

Metadata author:

  > Matthew Deaton
  > USDA/NASS/RDD/GIB/AFS
  > 3251 Old Lee Highway, Suite 301
  > Fairfax, VA 22030

  > 703-877-8000 x151 (voice)
  > HQ_RD_OD@nass.usda.gov

Metadata standard:
  FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)

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