Farmers Lured to Surrender Property Rights in Exchange for Tax Credits

Written By: Jerry Gilbertson  |  Posted: Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

The state mandated Working Lands Initiative (Madison's new plan to control farmland in Wisconsin) was one of the topics at the meeting of the Eau Claire Wisconsin Township Association (WTA) Thursday evening, January 28th. The Wisconsin Working Lands Program is part of the 20009 - 2011 state budget signed into law by Gov. Jim Doyle June 29, 2009. The program entices farmers and other land owners to cooperate by providing income tax credits of $5.00 to $10.00 per acre. A farmer with 200 acres of farmland could receive as much as $2000.00 in income tax credits.

According to a Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (WDATCP) publication handed out at the meeting, "If counties fail to update their plan by the date identified in state statute, farmers will lose tax credit eligibility." Eau Claire, Chippewa and Dunn Counties' existing farmland preservation plan certifications all expire December 31, 2012 with zoning ordinance certifications expiring one year later. Visit http://workinglands.wi.gov and click on "Farmland Preservation Planning" then "Plan certification expiration dates."

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