Four environmental and agricultural groups are celebrating the legislation passed this week to update the state’s farmland preservation program.
The bipartisan bill, signed by Gov. Tony Evers, increases the per-acre tax credits available to participating farmers, while also reducing the minimum time commitment from 15 years to 10 years.
Updating the farmland preservation program was a priority issue of the Clean Water Initiative, a joint effort from Clean Wisconsin, the Dairy Business Association, the Nature Conservancy and WI Land+Water to find common ground on water and agricultural issues.
“This legislation is a win for Wisconsin agriculture and conservation,” the groups said jointly.
“Keeping Wisconsin farmland in production agriculture helps preserve the rich farming heritage of Wisconsin’s rural communities,” says Sara Walling, water and agriculture program director of Clean Wisconsin.
Walling says the “much-needed updates” will create more opportunities for farmer participation.
“The Farmland Preservation Program is unique, as it is the only program in Wisconsin that provides incentives for farmers to maintain working lands that meet conservation standards,” says Matt Krueger, executive director of WI Land+Water. “These improvements will only improve this important program.”
Learn more about the changes: https://www.midwestfarmreport.com/2023/12/06/state-approves-changes-to-farmland-preservation-agreements/
Listen to responses from DATCP: https://omny.fm/shows/mid-west-farm-report-madison/farmland-preservation-managers-expect-changes-to-b
Hear a grower’s reaction: https://omny.fm/shows/mid-west-farm-report-madison/waumandee-farmer-sees-value-in-farmland-preservati
