Farmers and conservation advocates both have reason to be enthusiastic about the recent reintroduction of a bill to update the farmland preservation program. Senator Patrick Testin (Stevens Point) and Representative Loren Oldenburg (Viroqua) have authored the legislation, which is currently circulating for co-sponsorship.
The bill encourages farmers to participate in the longstanding program that helps preserve farmland and safeguard soil and water by making a number of changes – including shortening the required length of participation and increasing the size of the tax credit.
“Since 1977, the farmland preservation program has helped Wisconsin farmers be good stewards of the land,” said Senator Testin. “By strengthening the farmland preservation program, we’re investing in the future of our farmers and our environment.”
Representative Oldenburg agreed that the bill was a win-win.
“Our efforts on this legislation have attracted support from farmers, conservationists, and folks from across the political spectrum,” said Rep. Oldenburg. “By making this program more responsive to the needs of farmers, we believe we’ll see better outcomes for all involved.”
By releasing this proposal early in the legislative session, both Senator Testin and Representative Oldenburg hope to build on the bi-partisan support the bill garnered last session when it passed the Senate Committee on Agriculture unanimously.
