Task force looks at ways to preserve farmland (complete article from source)
Source: New Richmond News
June 09, 2008
It’s been almost two years since a state task force suggested ways to preserve Wisconsin’s dwindling farmland.
Now, the panel wants to press the issue with legislators.
function photoFull (URL) {
day = new Date();
id = day.getTime();
eval("page" + id + " = window.open(URL, '" + id + "', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=0,width=510,height=510,left = 137,top = 84');");
}
It gives tax credits to farmers who agree to keep their land in agriculture.
He said it was the nation’s most effective program soon after it started in 1978, but now it’s badly outdated.
The panel wants lawmakers to consider a few changes next year.
They want all land in the program zoned for exclusive agricultural zoning.
Farmers would get flat credits per acre, instead of having them based on their incomes.
The application process would be made easier.
About 8 million acres are covered now, and Nilsestuen says the proposed changes would add acreage at no cost to taxpayers.
He says something’s got to be done because Wisconsin is losing 30,000 acres of farmland each year, the most in the Midwest.
Click here for complete article from New Richmond News
|
