WI: FARMER & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN NOW SUBMIT AG ENTERPRISE AREA PETITIONS

News Date October 20, 2009

Groups of farmers and local governments interested in preserving areas of farmland can now request an agricultural enterprise area or AEA designation from the state agriculture department.

An AEA identifies land that is locally targeted by farmers and by local government for agricultural preservation and agricultural development.  Once designated, these areas enable eligible farmers to enter into a farmland preservation agreement with the state to claim a farmland preservation tax credit.  Local governments can add to these incentives to further promote farmland preservation and agricultural economic development in their communities.

The state may designate a maximum of 15 AEAs or 200,000 acres by January 1, 2012, and one million acres statewide after January 1, 2012.

“Agricultural Enterprise Areas are part of the Wisconsin Working Lands Initiative that was included in Governor Doyle’s budget and are a unique way to identify areas important for agricultural preservation.  They are also critical for encouraging future agricultural development in areas that have support from the local community," said Secretary Rod Nilsestuen, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

To receive designation, a petition must be jointly filed by at least five eligible farmers in the proposed AEA, and by each county, town or municipality in which any part of the proposed AEA is located.  If the petition is selected by the department through a competitive evaluation process, the area must be officially designated through Wisconsin’s rule process.  After completing the expedited rule process, designation goes into effect January 1 of the following year.

Prior to submitting a petition, farmers or local governments are asked to contact Coreen Fallat at Coreen.Fallat@wisconsin.gov or (608) 224-4625 for additional guidance. 

Interested parties must complete the petition form available on the department’s website at http://workinglands.wi.gov.  Petitions must be submitted by February 26, 2010.  The department will evaluate petitions and announce selected AEAs for designation by June 11, 2010.

Farmers and other interested parties can learn more about AEAs and Wisconsin’s Working Lands Initiative at upcoming workshops scheduled for late October and early November.  More details will be available shortly from DATCP and the Wisconsin Towns Association. (Contact: Jane H. Larson, (608) 224-5005)