I thought people might be interested in our most recent criteria for land searches at RanchHome.
groups.yahoo.com/RanchHome

Comments welcome.

Best Wishes
Grant

Ranch Home Farmland Selection Criteria.
groups.yahoo.com/RanchHome
Good Things to Have
Public Road frontage - the more the better, the more sides the better (3 max).
Elevation of 100+ feet. (Sea level rises, tsunami waves, air polution, etc.)
50 Miles from the coast. (to allow hurricanes to dissipate)
High spot for houses.
Relative high spot compared to other properties. (A path for flood water)
As little flood zone as possible. Zone X is not necessarily safe. It means unknown!
Mineral rights sold with property. (may have to compromise on this but beware of unexpected strip mining!!)
Agricultural exemption or forestry exemption, probably not conservation easement.
Water pond or tank to capture and store rainwater.
Good reliable yearly and summer rainfall.

Utilities
Water connection available. (For chlorinated water that gov't official love.)
Ability to drill well for drinking water needs.
Electric connection available.
Cable or other high speed internet connection available.

Show Stoppers
No municipal corporations.
No ETJ of municipal corporations, or planned annexation areas.
No corrupt local government.
No interventionist local government.
No laws regulating use of firearms.
No serious restrictions of the subdivision of land. (10 acre rule and 60' frontage)
No high power electric lines within 100 yards.
No interstate highway within 1 mile.
Not bordering government land or facilities within 100 yards or much more.
No major military base withing 100 miles, or 2 miles for minor facilities.
Not downwind of electric power plants coal or nuclear.
Not downwind of feedlot operations (bad manure smell).
No routine aerial spraying of crops in the area.
No restrictions/taxes on catching rainwater (Yes the Edwards Aquifer does this!)

Additional Soil Characteristics
Not pure sand or silt (lacks fertility or ability to hold it).
Good subsoil drainage
Ground/well water for crops, with government recognized water rights!
Surface water (river) for crops, with government recognized water rights!
No saline irrigation damage.