Wisconsin Farmland Preservation Agricultural Zoning Law

Wis. Stat. chapter 91, the Working Lands Initiative, replaced Wisconsin's earlier farmland preservation act. Counties prepare farmland preservation plans certified by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, and may designate exclusive agricultural zoning districts and agricultural enterprise areas. Farmers in certified districts can qualify for state income tax credits ranging from $5 to $10 per acre. Conversion of land out of farmland preservation zoning may trigger conversion fees. The framework coexists with right-to-farm protections in 823.08 and supports county-level planning that balances development pressures with agricultural viability.

Conversion of land from a certified farmland preservation district triggers a conversion fee equal to three times the per-acre Class 4 agricultural land value. Farmers claiming tax credits must comply with conservation standards or risk loss of credits and back-tax liability.