Walberg Introduces Amendment to Help Fund Farmland Preservation in Michigan During Drafting of 2007 Farm Bill

Press Release

WALBERG INTRODUCES AMENDMENT TO HELP FUND FARMLAND PRESERVATION IN MICHIGAN DURING DRAFTING OF 2007 FARM BILL

U.S. Congressman Tim Walberg (R-MI) today introduced an amendment to help fund farmland preservation in Michigan during drafting of the 2007 Farm Bill.

Walberg's amendment would:

- Allow locally established, local government preservation programs be considered a "Qualified Entity"

- Allow communities that have established an ordinance or law creating the program and willing to put up 50% matching money, be eligible to apply for a match from the federal FRPP program.

- Still require the local program to have the necessary authority under state law as well as the financial control policies to assure proper fiscal oversight.

"Currently, not all states and communities are at the same stage when it comes to preserving our farmlands, and this amendment would allow local communities that have come together in partnership with local government to access federal funds," Walberg said.

The amendment was hailed by the Seventh District's agriculture community.

"We appreciate Congressman Walberg's assistance in ensuring that the 2007 Farm Bill includes language that will allow Calhoun County agricultural preservation projects equal opportunity to receive federal funding," Jennifer Bomba, Calhoun County Planning Director, said.

"The Farm Bill is a massive, complicated program with many facets," Scott Everett, Michigan Director of American Farmland Trust, said.
"Congressman Walberg was able to recognize and impact an issue directly related to the Seventh District and 20 other counties in Michigan."

BACKGROUND:
- In 1997 the Michigan legislature designated $23 Million for a state farmland preservation program through purchase of agricultural conservation easements. This "pilot" program protected 70 farms during a 3 year period.
- During this pilot program, it was clear preserving farms and farmland is very difficult if not impossible to do correctly when being implemented and managed from a state level. If farmland preservation was to be successful it needed to be administered at the local level, much like Pennsylvania does, the nation's leader in farmland preservation.
- In 2000, the Michigan Legislature passed PA 262, which set up the rules and guidelines for local units of government to properly set up and administer local purchase of development rights program to preserve farmland through permanent agricultural conservation easements.
- Since 2000, the following Michigan County Board of Commissioners have passed County Ordinances establishing the process and administration for local PDR programs: Berrien, St. Joseph, Cass, Calhoun, Washtenaw, Ingham, Eaton, Clinton, Lapeer, St. Clair, Isabella, Kent, Allegan, Barry, Van Buren, Clare, Grand Traverse, Antrim and Macomb. (Jackson, Ottawa and Bay are working on them)
- Each of these programs involves an appointed "County Agricultural Preserve Board" along with guidelines, rules and oversight by the County Board of Commissioners all consistent with state law, PA 262 of 2000.

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