Farmland Preservation

Crawford County updating Farmland Preservation Plan

By Ted Pennekamp

Crawford County Conservationist Dave Troester said that the county, working in conjunction with the Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission, is in the process of updating the county’s Farmland Preservation Plan as are several other area counties.

Troester noted that the plan has not had a full update since 1982. Counties are required to update their Farmland Preservation Plans to meet the requirements of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Working Land’s Initiative. This calls for counties to designate Farmland Preservation Zoning Districts and/or Agricultural Enterprise Areas in order for landowners to be eligible to receive Farmland Preservation tax credits. Farmland Preservation Plans must also be consistent with a county’s comprehensive plan. 

“Most of our Farmland Preservation Plan is completed,” said Troester. “We are currently creating a map to deliniate Farmland Preservation Areas.” Troester said Farmland Preservation Areas include farmland woodlands and exclude areas that are developed. He said the County Land Conservation Department and the Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission (MRRPC) have been working with the townships in order to complete the plan. 

“We’re hoping to get it done by sometime in 2016,” said Troester.

Defining Farmland Preservation Areas is the first step in developing Farmland Preservation Zoning Districts and Agricultural Enterprise Areas that allow a $5 to $10 property tax credit per acre for preserving farmland in these designated areas.

In addition to the map, the Land Conservation Department and the MRRPC are also updating the land use, economic and agricultural trend information. These trends show a decline in agricultural operations but more production per farm in Crawford County. 

According to the MRRPC, from 2002 to 2012, cropland has been reduced by 24 percent and the number of farms has decreased by 13 percent, yet the total value of all agricultural sales was almost $75 million in 2012, well above the 2002 value of $42 million and the 2007 value of $61 million. Another interesting trend is the fact that the number of dairy cows in the county declined by 28 percent from 2002 to 2012 and beef cattle declined by 16 percent.