Aug 09, 2010

Wisconsin Farmland Preservation—News and Resources

Wisconsin's Working Lands Initiative is a legacy to the late Rod Nilsestuen, who died July 21, 2010. As Wisconsin's agricultural secretary, he made the Working Lands Initiative one of his major priorities. Now it's our job to see that the Working Lands Initiative thrives, so that those dedicated to working lands protection in Wisconsin have a full set of tools to do their work.

With respect to Rod and his legacy, American Farmland Trust and Gathering Waters Conservancy are happy to report that Wisconsin's Working Lands Initiative is on the ground and running. Our partnership tracks the progress of WLI programs on our web site at: www.wisconsinfarmland.org.

Our partnership originated as the "Campaign for Wisconsin's Farm and Forest Lands," and with the successful passage of the Working Lands Initiative and its new tools, we're now "Protecting Wisconsin's Farm and Forest Lands." That's the goal of our ongoing partnership, to help people use these new tools to protect working lands.

We've added several new resources aimed at helping achieve that goal. We'll continue to add resources and relevant information for those interested in working lands protection. Watch for announcements about upcoming workshops and other activities.

We're especially happy to present the Wisconsin Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easements Resource Index.

wisconsinfarmland.org/resources.php

This library of resources will help anyone interested in exploring a purchase of agricultural conservation easement program for in your community. It's a rich list of samples, examples, reports on PACE and more - technical information, drawing from successful programs in Wisconsin and other states.

Also new to our web site:

· The first round of PACE applicants are under review at the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

· Twelve areas covering more than 200,000 acres have been recommended for designation as Agricultural Enterprise Areas (AEA).

· Waupaca County recently celebrated its new farm and forest land protection program.

And read these profiles of Farmland Protection Leaders, who provide insights and advice:

· To say that Bob Uphoff is a farmland protection pioneer is almost an understatement. Uphoff's family was among the first to become involved in the Dane County town of Dunn's farmland protection program.

· John Koepke and the Koepke family have been at the cutting edge of efforts to protect working lands in populous Waukesha County. They've enjoyed some successes, too.

· Waupaca County Extension Agents Greg Blonde and Mike Koles did what Extension does best: Listened to what citizens in their county wanted and then helped them achieve it. In the process, they helped citizens develop a successful farm and forest land protection program in the county and also helped residents around the state become familiar with farmland protection by organizing tours and other activities.