Soil series profile

Cushing soil series

Cushing is a well drained soil with a sandy loam surface, mapped on 198,928 acres in 13 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group C.

#1833 by mapped area fine-loamy Haplic Glossudalfs (Alfisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 6.5
Mapped area: 199k

Typical Cushing profile

Texture and pH by depth

Depth to scale. More strongly shaded layers hold more clay. Horizon names are the soil survey's (A = topsoil, B = subsoil, C = parent material).

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Typical Cushing horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–5 in (A)	Sandy loam	6.5	10%	67%	1.5%
5–15 in (E)	Sandy loam	6.5	10%	67%	1%
15–19 in (B/E)	Sandy loam	6.5	10%	67%	0.55%
19–47 in (Bt)	Sandy clay loam	6.5	23%	59%	0.25%
47–60 in (C)	Sandy loam	6.8	15%	66%	0%

Representative values from the most extensive Cushing map unit (Cushing sandy loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes, survey area MN145). Other map units of this series vary within the series range.

Stock photo for illustration, not a sample of this soil series. Credit on the Sources & method page.

What this means

What Cushing soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Cushing soils is slightly acidic: pH 6.5 (most land between 5.5 and 6.5), the range most vegetables, flowers and lawn grasses prefer.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 100% of mapped Cushing acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is loam (41% of mapped Cushing acres).

100% of mapped Cushing acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.

For lawns and yards

On 52% of mapped acres, rain soaks in slowly (hydrologic groups C and D, including dual groups that are D until drained). Expect runoff and puddles after heavy rain: core-aerate compacted lawns and keep ground sloping away from foundations.

For a septic system

For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 100% of the acres in mapped Cushing soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited.

Where the soil is very limited (slow permeability, a high water table, flooding, shallow bedrock or steep slopes), alternative systems such as mound or sand-filter designs are common and cost more.

Only a licensed site evaluation or perc test at the actual lot decides whether a system is allowed and which design.

Generated from the mapped numbers above using fixed rules, not a site visit. See how these notes are written.

Where Cushing soil is found

Mapped acres

Cushing is mapped in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Counties with the most mapped Cushing soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Stearns County, MN	42,040	4.9%
Aitkin County, MN	29,336	2.5%
Chisago County, MN	28,523	10.7%
Morrison County, MN	23,754	3.3%
Todd County, MN	22,835	3.8%
Cass County, MN	16,601	1.3%
Isanti County, MN	14,590	5.2%
Polk County, WI	9,812	1.7%
Pine County, MN	5,363	0.6%
Burnett County, WI	3,195	0.6%
Washington County, MN	1,846	0.7%
Sherburne County, MN	643	0.2%
Mille Lacs County, MN	392	0.1%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Cushing acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 100%

Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Cushing acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Cushing acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	100.0%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Cushing acres

Depth to seasonal high water table: About 2.0 feet (24 in) (median where reported).
Flooding: Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
Slope: Typically 4–25% (median 12%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 1.5%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 100%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

Drainage class across mapped Cushing acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Drainage class across mapped Cushing acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	100.0%
Moderately well drained	0.0%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%

Hydrologic soil group

A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) 0%

B: moderate infiltration 48%

C: slow infiltration 52%

D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) 0%

A/D: D as is, A if drained 0%

B/D: D as is, B if drained 0%

C/D: D as is, C if drained 0%

Hydrologic soil group across mapped Cushing acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Cushing acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	48.4%
C: slow infiltration	51.6%
D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet)	0.0%
A/D: D as is, A if drained	0.0%
B/D: D as is, B if drained	0.0%
C/D: D as is, C if drained	0.0%

Sources & data dates

Source: USDA NRCS Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO), queried through Soil Data Access. Public domain.
Data date: SSURGO as published on November 3, 2026 (most recent survey area update October 26, 2026). NRCS refreshes SSURGO each October.
Scope: All map unit components named Cushing (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 198,928 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Cushing components. The profile comes from the single largest Cushing component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

Full narrative description: USDA Official Soil Series Description for Cushing.