Agenda - Council - 02/26/1979 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

METROPOLITAN COUNCIL 300 Metro Square Building, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55101 Rural Area Task Force Agricultural Preservation Subcommittee CAPITAL & EQUITY WORK GROUP SUMMARY OF Meeting of July 7, 1978 PRESENT: Will Brandt, Moderator, Jim Janke, Stan Knoll, Alda Peikert, Phil Raup, Nyle Sipe, Agnes Ring - St. Croix County, Wisconsin, Planning Office. ABSENT: Paul Bischoff, Arnie Felton, Dan Nicolai, Bill Sorg Minutes of the last work group meeting were reviewed, with some discussion on item #1 under equity issues. It was felt that the intent of the issue was unclear and should be explored more fully. Lender Survey The group had hoped to have the final results of the lender survey, however, the response has been lower than expected. Follow-up work by group members has not been fully completed and many banks have requested another copy of the survey form. To ensure a large enough sample for accurate results, it was decided that more follow-up and response time for the extra forms sent was needed. Federal Land Bank - Data Results The data on long-term regional lending patterns in the Metropolitan Area is still pending. It is hoped that the results will be available by August 4. The group hopes to finalize the results from the lender survey and the data on long-term regional lending patterns by August 4, the new target date. Agricultural'Preservation Programs During the remainder of the meeting, group discussion concentrated on agricultural preservation issues, the Minnesota Green Acres Law, and particularly on how Wisconsin's preservation program might relate to the Metropolitan Region. Group discussion included the following comments. 1. In an area like Anoka County, where good farmland is scarce or very specialized, an agricultural preservation program similar to Wisconsin's, based on market value assessment, would not be effective. The market value would be so mu h higher than the agricultural value that farmers would not be able to qualify for the credits. An agricultural preservation program would be helpful if a special assessment for agricultural value in Anoka made. Currently, the Green Acres Law is more beneficial to the Anoka farmers than something similar ~ to Wisconsin's program. 2. Wisconsin's agricultural preservation program seems well suited to areas of good farmland with~tive commercial agricultur whereas.agricultural activity in the urban areas where farmland may be poorer and farm operations may be marginal or short-term, Green Acres offers more benefits to the farmer. 3. Land preservation needs to be defined before an agricultural preservation program can be set up. What are we trying to preserve, commercial agriculture or open space? Does it matter? 4. Any proposal for an agricultural preservation program needs to make sure that non-farm or rural estate development will not be able to qualify for those benefits intended for the farmer. Apparently, this problem occurs under the current Green Acres Law. 5. Because Minnesota has a good tax mix, a preservation program similar to Wisconsin's can be considered. Minnesota is in a very flexible position to combine the good aspects from the Wisconsin program with the good elements of the Green Acres program. A marriage of exclusive agricultural zoning and Green Acres may offer a preservation program that is flexible and beneficial to both the rural and urban farmer in the Metropolitan Area. The work group decided that further discussion was needed on combining Wisconsin's agricultural preservation program with Minnesota's Green Acres Law. The group would like to hear two "experts" discuss the possibilities and feasibilities of such a program. Will it work? Jeanne O'Link of staff agreed to check into this. The group also agreed to write down some ideas on what to recommend, which will be shared and discussed at the next meeting. These ideas will be used as a basis for drawing up preliminary recommendations of the work group. Dan Garry, guest speaker from the Family Farm Security Program will be joining the group in their discussion, after his presentation to the full subcommittee. j o ' 1: tv