Land & Water Conservation

Land & Water Conservation

FARMLAND PRESERVATION PROGRAM
	The state's Farmland Preservation Program is designed to preserve agricultural land and open spaces by promoting orderly land use planning and development, by promoting soil and water conservation, and by providing tax relief to farmers. In 2001, in Sheboygan County there were Farmland Preservation Credit claims filed by 710 landowners totaling $479,951 for an average credit of $676. To participate in the Farmland Preservation Program: A person must own a farmland parcel of 35 acres or larger. That parcel must be zoned for exclusive agricultural use or be subject to a farmland preservation agreement between the farmland owner and the state (in Sheboygan County all townships except Mitchell and Sheboygan have exclusive agricultural zoning). The parcel must also produce gross farm profits of $6000 in a year or $18,000 in the previous 3 years combined. In addition, participants must comply with soil and water conservation standards set by the state Land Conservation Board i.e. a participant must have, and be following a conservation plan developed in accordance with that county's Farmland Preservation Program Soil Conservation Requirements established by the county Land Conservation Committee. Also Sheboygan County landowners enrolled in the Farmland Preservation Program must have a current Zoning Certificate filed with our county's Planning and Resources Department. If you have a Zoning Certificate filed with the Planning and Resources Department a new certificate is not needed unless one or more of the following apply: You: Sell land Buy land Rezone land Create a trust and transfer your land into the trust. Give or sell the land to children and retain life estate. Transfer ownership because of an owner's death. If you are in the Farmland Preservation Program and need conservation plan or need your conservation plan updated contact Christopher Ertman at our Department @ 920-459-1375 If you need a Zoning Certificate contact the county Planning and Zoning Department @ (920) 459-3060. If you have questions regarding claiming the Farmland Preservation Credit contact the Wisconsin Department of Revenue @ (608) 266-2772 or Email: income@dor.state.wi.us