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   Volume 6, Issue 4
  Spring 2007
Center for Land Use Education  
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Growing Wisconsin:
A Workshop on How to Sustain
Our Working Lands

By Rebecca Roberts, Land Use Specialist

The University of Wisconsin-Extension and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection recently partnered to host a series of one-day educational workshops focused on sustaining Wisconsin�s working lands. The workshops were held February 26-28, 2007 in three locations across the state, including Menomonie, Kimberly and Oconomowoc. In total, over 600 people attended the workshops representing 57 of 72 counties. Participants included farmers, land owners, planners, attorneys, developers, real estate professionals, local and state officials, and interested citizens.

The objectives of the workshops were to:

  • Increase understanding of how to protect working lands through the use of voluntary programs such as purchase or transfer of development rights;

  • Increase knowledge of the necessary steps to take at the local and state level to implement these programs;

  • Create a network of individuals and organizations interested in a continued discussion of innovative agriculture development implementation tools; and

  • Showcase Wisconsin examples of local leadership in addressing land use and agriculture issues.

Pictured from left to right are featured speakers Rod Nilsestuen, Gene Garber, Ralph Robertson, and Scott Everett.

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Photo:  Eric Olson, CLUE

The workshops provided attendees with an opportunity to learn from local and national leaders in protecting working lands. Featured speakers included Rod Nilsestuen, Wisconsin Secretary of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection; Gene Garber, Farmer and Chairman of the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Agricultural Preserve Board; Ralph Robertson, Farmer and Program Manager, Carroll County, Maryland Agriculture Preservation Program; and Scott Everett, American Farmland Trust Great Lakes Regional Director. In addition, university researchers and local leaders from each of the three workshop regions were invited to showcase innovative approaches to land use planning and agricultural protection taking place around the State.

This edition of the Land Use Tracker takes a closer look at some of the programs and ideas highlighted during the 3-day workshops. The article on page 3 describes the Wisconsin Working Lands Initiative spearheaded by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). Page 5 features a question and answer session with Ralph Robertson and Gene Garber discussing successful purchase of development rights programs from Maryland and Pennsylvania. Page 7 focuses on local and state steps to implement a purchase or transfer of development rights program as recommended by Scott Everett. Pages 9-11 focus on local efforts to protect working lands that were highlighted during the three regional workshops.

Presentations from the Growing Wisconsin workshops, will be available on the Center for Land Use Education website at: www.uwsp.edu/cnr/landcenter/growingwisconsin/index.html

 

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