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2010 PACE Applications Selected for Funding
Read the Official Announcement here.
More than 5,000 acres of farmland will remain in agriculture and will be protected by permanent
easements as part of the first set of applications recommended for funding through the Purchase of
Agricultural Conservation Easement (PACE) program.
At a recent meeting of the PACE advisory council, the council reviewed 36 applications and recommended
that 16 applications move forward in the easement funding process. The applications were
scored and ranked based on a number of evaluation criteria including farmland quality, consistency
with local planning and zoning, water quality benefits, and community support.
Under the PACE program, the state agriculture department will provide up to 50 percent matching
funds to cooperating entities to purchase permanent easements. While the landowner is compensated
for the fair market value of the land, the landowner retains ownership and continues to farm
but the easement permanently restricts non-agricultural development of the property. The easement
remains with the land and all future landowners are bound by the terms of the easement.
What's next?
Before a conservation easement can be placed on the land, the landowners and local cooperating
entities will work with the PACE program and in some instances, the USDA Natural Resource Conservation
Service Farm and Ranchland Protection Program, to ensure the land is properly protected.
The department and the applicant will enter into a grant contract outlining the responsibilities of
each party.
Applications that were not selected this round will have another opportunity for consideration in the
2011 grant cycle. At its Sept. 15 meeting, the PACE Council will review application materials and
make recommendations for improvement based on suggestions and comments from landowners,
cooperating groups and staff.
Application materials for the 2011 PACE grant cycle will be released
later this year. The 2011 PACE application deadline will be in mid-February, 2011.
For program status information, ranking criteria and program deatails visit DATCP's site here.
This information is from DATCP's electroic newsletter, Working Lands Connection. To be included in the mailing list, visit DATCP's site here.
Agricultural landowners interested in permanent land conservation need to find a non-profit or government partner. Use the links below to find introductory information about how PACE easements work, how Wisocnsin's PACE program might fit with your goals for your property, and to help find a non-profit land trust or local PACE program that might help you protect your land for the next generation of farmers.
Frequently Asked Questions about Wisconsin's PACE Program
DATCP's PACE Fact Sheet
Fact sheets about working with conservation easements and non-profit land trusts:
Conservation Easements
Working With a Land Trust
Tax Benefits of Working with a Land Trust
A list of local PACE or similar programs in Wisconsin
Visit Gathering Waters Conservancy's land trust directory to find a land trust near you
The Working
Lands Connection electronic newsletter is a source for information
about the Wisconsin Working Lands Initiative including: upcoming
events and opportunities, updates on legislative activity, and
news from around the state. To view the current issue, visit the Working
Lands Initiative web site. To sign up to receive this electronic
newsletter, please contact DATCPWorkingLands [at] wisconsin.gov.
Updated 8-10-2010.
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