The best thing we can do in Wisconsin to preserve farmland is to maintain the use value assessment law. It has controlled property taxes on all farms -- large and small.

I think lovemycountry is taking the discussion in the wrong direction. 99 percent of Wisconsin farms are family-owned. What is considered small and large? Just exactly what is a corporate farm anyway? The reality is that 98 percent of farm corporations are closely held family businesses that have elected a corporate legal structure for business or estate planning purposes. What is there that is inherently evil about a corporation?

I wish I could attend the land trust workshop. I wonder if there will be another workshop for those who have daytime committments? I support the preservation of farmland, hands down. I do wonder if these preserved farms become part of a sustainable farming program i.e. soil & water conservation, or if they just continue to farm tham as usual? I wonder because I live in an area surrounded by "preserved' farmland, but the nitrates in my well are too high for my family to drink during the winter (baseflow). Will this program also prevent overapplication of fertilizers?

One of the best ways to preserve farmland is to defend and support small family farms.
Since the WI Dept of Ag will be there, be sure and ask their representative why the state government hands out millions of our taxpayer money in free grants to corporate factory farms. Because these corporate farms make big campaign donations, they receive our tax money, and of course, they then crowd out the needed local family farms.