By LARRY KERSHNER

Farm News news editor

The old corn suitability rating system, formulated in the 1970s by Iowa State University, has been overhauled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is expected to be released officially later this year.

Called CSR2, most farms can expect their ratings to go up slightly, although some may drop.

County assessors use the CSR to help establish property values.

According to Dr. John Lawrence, director of Agriculture and Natural Resources for ISU?Extension, some clinics have been held, but values based on CSR2 are not official.

“Once the CSR2 is released, all of the information will be on the (USDA’s) Natural Resources and Conservation Service site,”?Lawrence said.