Assault On Working Lands Initiative

Forwarded from Rock Environmental Network

Legislative Alert!

We need your help: Please act now. The Working Lands Initiative we worked to pass is under assault.

Contact your legislators and tell them to "Stand Tall for Farmland Preservation" and say no to SB-576.

The Wisconsin Realtors Association is leading efforts to repeal or delay the conversion fee on lands removed from farmland preservation zoning districts.

A bill (SB-576) to do this has been introduced in the Senate and Assembly. Realtors are flooding capitol offices with calls supporting the bill.

Your legislators need to hear the truth from you. Contact information is below. Here are some talking points:

The conversion fee is an important part of the popular Working Lands Initiative. It supports many aspects of the program, including:

. Agricultural Enterprise Areas

. Grants to counties to update farmland plans

. Agricultural conservation easements

Facts about the conversion fee:

. The conversion fee increases the value of land for agriculture by reducing potential land use conflicts and providing security for farmers looking to locate or expand their farm operations. The cost of the conversion fee will most likely be passed on to the person developing the land or buying a house in prime farmland. Isn't this appropriate?

. The fee applies only to land rezoned out of farmland preservation
zoning districts.

. Farmers with existing farmland preservation agreements are not
subject to the conversion fee for removing land from the agreement.

Contact your legislators and tell them to "Stand Tall for Farmland
Preservation" and say no to SB-576.

Call your State Senator and Assembly representative on the legislative
hotline at 1-800-362-9472. If you need help finding your legislator, go to:

Find your legislator. You can also email your legislator. See the list at the bottom of this message. Remember: Personal contacts are best.

Thank you!

For more information, contact:

Bill Berry
Bob Wagner

American Farmland Trust's
Senior Policy and Program Advisor

Campaign for Wisconsin's Farm and Forest Lands

1973 Strongs Ave.
American Farmland Trust

Stevens Point WI 54481
413-586-9330 Ext. 12

715 341 9119
bwagner@farmland.org

715 321 0589 (cell)

billlnick@charter.net