Hearings set on new Farmland Preservation rule

Four public hearings during February will allow the public to comment on a proposed rule governing Wisconsin's Farmland Preservation Program.

The Legislature repealed the previous Farmland Preservation Program in 2009 in response to growing pressures to convert farmland statewide to nonagricultural uses, and recreated it with a new structure.

The new law authorized the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to write an administrative rule, called ATCP 49, to lay out technical details as to how local governments may plan and zone to preserve farmland.

Landowners within farmland preservation zones may be able to claim tax credits.

Those interested can get a copy of the proposed rule:

• Online at http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov, search for ATCP 49;

• By mail at WI-DATCP, ATTN Alison Volk, Agricultural Resource Management Division, PO Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708-8911; or

• By calling or emailing Alison Volk, 608-224-4712, alison.volk@wi.gov

To comment on the rule, go online at http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov, and search for ATCP 49, send written comments to the address, or email comments to the address.

Comments must be received by March 15.