|
Updated Farmland Preservation Program - 2010 and Future Tax Years
Letter to Farmland Preservation Participants -- September 30, 2011
Annual Notification TY 2011
Annual Notification Guidance
Tax Preparers Guidance from DATCP October 2011
This State of Wisconsin program provides eligible Rock County landowners with an opportunity to claim farmland preservation tax credits through participation in the program. The tax credits available under the Wisconsin Working Lands Program are income tax credits that are applied against tax liability and are available for the 2010 tax year and beyond.
Tax credit amounts are:
- $5.00 for farmers with a farmland preservation agreement signed after July 1, 2009 and located in an agricultural enterprise area
- $7.50 for farmers in an area zoned and certified for farmland preservation
- $10.00 for farmers in an area zoned and certified for farmland preservation and in an agricultural enterprise area, with a farmland preservation agreement signed after July 1, 2009
To claim a tax credit, landowners must be located in an area zoned and certified for farmland preservation or have a farmland preservation agreement and be located in an agricultural enterprise area. Landowners be residents of Wisconsin and must meet other eligibility criteria to claim the credit, including compliance with state soil and water conservation standards.
Claimants must have $6,000 in gross farm revenue in the past year or $18,000 in the past three years. Income from rental receipts of farm acres does not count toward gross farm revenue. However, gross farm revenue produced by the renter on the landowner’s farmland can be used to meet this eligibility requirement.
Farmland Preservation Program - 2009 and Prior Tax Years
This State of Wisconsin program provides Rock County landowners with over $850,000.00 of tax relief credits annually. Anyone who owns at least 35 acres and produces $6,000 in agricultural products per year or an average of $18,000 over three years can participate. The amount of tax credit will vary, depending on the household income and the amount of real estate taxes. Please note the aforementioned tax credit is a credit against your income tax. To claim your credit a Schedule FC must be completed and attached to your state income tax filings. An explanation of the program can be found the Department of Revenue web site: http://www.dor.state.wi.us/pubs/pb503.pdf
Forms I-925 are not being mailed in 2008 as they have been in the past. Please refer to question and answer #3 under the Wisconsin Department of Revenue web site: http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/ise/farm.html
All townships within the political boundary of Rock County have adopted the Exclusive Agricultural Zoning provisions.
Landowners wishing to participate in this program must obtain a zoning certificate from the Rock County Planning and Development Agency. The Land Conservation Department must sign the zoning certificate verifying the landowner is following the Farmland Preservation Program Soil and Water Conservation Standard.
Each participant must complete the Annual Notification Form thereby certifying that they are meeting the soil conservation requirements of the program. These forms are mailed to past participants in mid August with a return date of November 31. Also landowners must submit an administrative fee with the Annual Notification Form.
Anne Miller is available to answer questions and discuss conservation issues with regards to this program. Steve Schraufnagel, Planning and Development Agency is available to discuss Zoning issues. He can be reached at (608) 757–5587.
Land and Water Resource Management Program
The Rock County Land and Water Resource Management Program is designed to reduce soil erosion, protect water quality, and conserve the natural resources as outlined in the Land and Water Resource Management Plan prepared by the LCD. The program provides cost-share and technical assistance to land owners who install best management practices on their farm.
Landowners who are interested in obtaining cost share funds for conservation practice(s) must contact Tom Sweeney or Norm Tadt. Applications are ranked according to practice cost, priority areas, and environmental benefit. If approved, landowners can receive up to 70% cost sharing for a particular project.
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
The Rock County Land Conservation Department is administering the state's technical work responsibilities of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). The CREP program allows landowners to enroll cropland or pastureland that is immediately adjacent to rivers, streams or farm drainage ditches into 15-year set-aside contracts or permanent easements. Eligible landowners receive State and Federal incentive payments and cost share payments to install practices such as grass filter strips, wooden buffer strips, wetland restorations, or grass waterways. More information may be obtained by contacting either Tom Sweeney or Norm Tadt. A website with information in regard to this program is available from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. http://datcp.wi.gov/Environment/Land_and_Water_Conservation/CREP/index.aspx
Animal Waste Management Program
The purpose of this ordinance is to regulate the location, design, construction, installation and alteration of animal waste storage facilities and use of animal waste from these facilities in order to prevent water pollution and thereby protect the health of Rock County residents and transients; prevent the spread of disease; and to promote the prosperity and general welfare of the citizens of Rock County. It is also intended to provide for the administration and enforcement of the Ordinance and to provide penalties for its violation.
The ordinance requires a permit be obtained prior to the installation or alteration of an animal waste storage facility. Any person considering installing, enlarging, altering or abandoning an animal waste storage facility shall contact the Land Conservation Department to obtain a Permit Application. In order to receive the permit, the permittee must develop a Storage Facility Plan and a Nutrient Management Plan that meets current NRCS technical standards. You can obtain an Animal Waste Storage Fact Sheet from our department that briefly discusses plan requirements. Staff from the Land Conservation Department (LCD) can assist you with the plan or a private consultant can be employed. Since the technical standards may dictate certain aspects of your facility design, it is important to contact the LCD early in the planning process. Also, it is important that the facility is constructed according to permit requirements. A fee schedule has been developed and is updated annually during the budget development process. For further information in regards to this program, please contact Norm Tadt or Tom Sweeney
Rock River Basin Citizen Monitoring Program
Well Abandonment
Pollution of our groundwater is a concern for all of us. That's because everyone in Rock County gets their drinking water from groundwater, whether you live in one of the municipalities or have a private well. Groundwater can become contaminated through many activities.
One source of groundwater contamination that most of us overlook is unused or improperly abandoned wells. Estimates are that there are over 500 improperly sealed wells in Rock County. These wells are a direct connection to groundwater. Anything that gets into the old wells flows directly into your drinking water. That can range from small animals to chemicals flowing in runoff water.
Rock County has a well abandonment program that provides cost share funds to help defray the costs associated with closing. When a Cost Share agreement is approved, you must hire a well driller or a certified pump installer to abandon your well. Costs for proper sealing are often less than $500 before cost sharing. This is a small price to pay when compared with the cost of trying to purify contaminated water or drilling a new well. Remember, if there is an abandoned well on your property that becomes contaminated, your drinking water will probably be the first thing affected. Take care of the health of your family. For further information, please contact Tom Sweeney, Andrew Baker, or Duane Collins.
Wildlife Damage Claim Program
Rock County annually participates in the Wisconsin Wildlife Damage Abatement and Claim Program. This program is funded through hunting license fees, and is designed to help prevent crop damage due to deer, geese, bear, and turkeys. The program will provide abatement assistance, including shooting permits, to reduce damage and will also pay some compensation for damage to crops.
The program tries to deter as much damage as possible and the key to doing this is to act early. Deer can be damaging alfalfa crops as soon as the crown appears from under the snow. This damage to the crown can result in long-term yield reductions. Damage to corn can occur when deer pull out seedlings or bite off tender silks. Goose damage usually occurs during molting when adult geese are unable to fly. Small grain and corn are their favorite foods during this time. Geese pull young plants out of the ground to eat. Most of the reported damage occurring in Rock County is due to geese. The program can help if you are having damage or even anticipate damage based on prior years. Again, the key is to act early. Program administration is contracted to the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, known as APHIS. They can be contacted at 1-800-433-0663.
DNR Website: http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/damage/index.htm
|
