1. Jackson County Farmland Protection Program A County/Local/State Partnership

2. History 2006 Jackson County Board of Commissioners adopts County Purchase of Development Rights Ordinance – Allows Jackson County to qualify for State Purchase of Development Rights Funds 2010 Jackson County Purchase of Development Rights Program approved by Michigan Department of Agriculture

3. This means… Jackson County farmers may be eligible to compete for purchase of development rights funding from the State of Michigan Funding will probably be available in 2012 Jackson County Farmland Protection Committee will apply on behalf of selected farmers

4. Background 2005 Michigan Department of Agriculture initiated new Purchase of Development Rights program Funded with repaid liens from PA 116 agreements One round in 2005/2006 2011 legislation encourages early repayment of liens – up to $5,000,000 may be available

5. To Qualify County or township must have PDR ordinance and qualified program Townships must designate County as their official PDR program; meet some local planning requirements – Agricultural Preservation Zone – Rationale for agriculture in township – Goals, policies and tools to encourage preservation of agriculture in township

6. The Process County takes applications from farmers in eligible townships Scores them according to county accepted criteria Submits top property(ies) to MDA MDA makes award to county programs Counties develop easements with landowners; purchase development rights with state money

7. Only 18 programs statewide Bias towards new programs Jackson County’s best opportunity to begin a program is now!

8. Where will the money come from State Funding – PA 116 Liens – Last seven years of tax credits from expired PA 116 contracts – $12,000,000 outstanding – Current program to discount liens if paid now – Anticipate up to $5,000,000 for 2012 funding

9. Other funding Federal Farm and Ranch Protection Funds may be used to ‘match’ the State funds Landowner donations (bargain sale) may be used to ‘match’ NO JACKSON COUNTY TAX DOLLARS HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATED FOR THIS PROGRAM!

10. Jackson County Scoring Criteria Above average crop yield – 30 pt Proximity to agricultural infrastructure (e.g. elevators, implement dealers) 30 pt Contiguous to other protected lands 20 pt Size in relation to average county farm 20 pt Currently implementing conservation practices 25 pt

11. Proximity to livestock operations (buffering from residential development) 20 pt Appropriate local planning and zoning 30 pt Distance to urban services 10 pt TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS = 185

12. STATE SCORING SYSTEM State evaluates the program not the land Looks at all parcels submitted by local program Encourages communities to think about how and where agriculture should be permanently protected

13. 1000 point system – Prime and unique soils150 pts – Conservation/Nutrient Plans in Place 50 pts – MAEAP participants 50 pts – Parcel Size (% of parcels 80 acres+) 50 pts – Contiguous blocks possible 100 pts – Local commitment (priorities; funds) 100 pts – Matching funds (including bargain sale) 100 pts – Intergovernmental cooperation 100 pts – Local planning training 50 pts

14. Capacity to execute100 pts Agricultural planning techniques 75 pts Agricultural economic development plan 75 pts

15. Current Status Local program approved by MDA Some townships are moving ahead: – Columbia – Henrietta Others are considering it: – Grass Lake – Waterloo

16. Next Steps A state funding round is likely in 2012 There will be 60 days to complete an application IF YOUR TOWNSHIP HAS NOT COMPLETED THEIR LOCAL PLANNING REQUIREMENTS, THIS WILL NOT BE ENOUGH TIME TO DO SO

17. Staff and Agricultural Protection Committee members are prepared to make presentations to township planning commissions and boards. Legacy Land Conservancy will help draft appropriate plan language. If you think you want to pursue this Purchase of Development Rights program, encourage your township to participate.