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Farm Events: |
Farm News: Shawano County Steps Up On Farmland PreservationcommentsPosted: 10.20.2010 DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski today announced that 21,867 acres of some of Wisconsin’s best farmland will be targeted for agricultural preservation and agricultural development in an area near Green Bay. Across the state, 200,000 acres of farmland are being designated as Agricultural Enterprise Areas (AEAs) under the Working Lands Initiative. “Wisconsin’s economy begins with agriculture, which is responsible for $59 billion per year and more than 1 out of every 10 jobs in the state,” Secretary Romanski said during a tour of the Jeff and Jena Betley farm in Pulaski. “The Working Lands Initiative makes a major investment in our state’s future economy by protecting what’s most vital to farming – the land. Today we are celebrating an agreement to protect the future of these great farmlands, which have supported our farmers and our economy for generations.”
Groups of farmers and local government worked together with the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to identify 12 unique areas around the state that are important for preserving farmland and growing agricultural businesses. The next application period is underway to identify other areas of prime farmland to add an additional 250,000 acres to the program this year.
Once an area is officially designated as an AEA, eligible farmers owning land within the AEA may enter into a voluntary farmland preservation agreement with the state. This enables the landowners to receive tax credits in exchange for agreeing to keep their farm in agricultural use for at least 15 years. Local communities can also use AEAs to help promote the future viability of existing agricultural and agriculture-related land use. The Town of Maple Grove in Shawano County is an area of exceptionally productive farms close to rapidly urbanizing neighbors. It is working closely with DATCP to use the tools available through the Working Lands Initiative.
Official designation of the AEAs will take effect on January 1, 2011 after being ratified by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection this fall.
The Working Lands Initiative was signed into law in 2009 by Governor Jim Doyle to enable successful farming for future generations. This plan to protect the state’s best farmland is part of a broad strategy to strengthen Wisconsin’s diverse farm economy. Incentives to help modernize the dairy industry have helped increase milk production to record levels and have strengthened the state's status as the number one producer of cheese in the country. At the same time, efforts to strengthen diversity in agriculture have made Wisconsin a leading producer of cranberries, specialty cheeses, organic vegetables and many other products.
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