Study: State Losing Farmland; Farmers Search For Solutions
Report's Recommendations Sent To Department Of Agriculture
Updated: 8:22 am CDT October 5, 2007
MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters just released a report saying the state is losing as much as 30,000 acres of farmland each year, and that has some family farms trying to find the key to keeping their businesses alive.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportTricia Hoesly and her husband, Todd, own a small farm near Brodhead that she said stays alive because of the niche they've found."We have really high-type cattle so we are able to merchandise and sell embryos and animals quite a bit," Hoesly said. "That's a large percentage of our income, so we aren't just relying solely on milk income."Some believe niche programs like theirs is the future of agriculture in Wisconsin, WISC-TV reported."Unlike a corn state like Iowa or a wheat state like Kansas, we don't rely on one or two commodities for our farm incomes. We have a lot of different opportunities," said Tom Lyon, co-chair of the Future of Farming and Rural Life in Wisconsin Project.While the state's agribusiness is diverse, including organic operations and specialized cheese or crop production, the new report said Wisconsin is losing farmland faster than any state in the upper Midwest, WISC-TV reported."We have areas of the state that are kind of poster children for poor planning where we've not had the density in the home and commercial building that maybe we could have," Lyon said.Some say the solution to preserving farms goes beyond the fence lines and into the community."I think the concern is the declining population and rural areas and how we provide health care and educational services to them," Lyon said.Another challenge is keeping the next generation interested in continuing the farming tradition."I really enjoy it, and I think that's something that I'd want to do," said Jake Hoesly, one of Tricia and Todd Hoesly's two children.The report called for new programs to preserve farmland, including grant programs to purchase 25-year easements or partnering with local governments for purchase of development rights.All 80 recommendations in the report will now go to the state secretary of the Department of Agriculture for consideration.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportTricia Hoesly and her husband, Todd, own a small farm near Brodhead that she said stays alive because of the niche they've found."We have really high-type cattle so we are able to merchandise and sell embryos and animals quite a bit," Hoesly said. "That's a large percentage of our income, so we aren't just relying solely on milk income."Some believe niche programs like theirs is the future of agriculture in Wisconsin, WISC-TV reported."Unlike a corn state like Iowa or a wheat state like Kansas, we don't rely on one or two commodities for our farm incomes. We have a lot of different opportunities," said Tom Lyon, co-chair of the Future of Farming and Rural Life in Wisconsin Project.While the state's agribusiness is diverse, including organic operations and specialized cheese or crop production, the new report said Wisconsin is losing farmland faster than any state in the upper Midwest, WISC-TV reported."We have areas of the state that are kind of poster children for poor planning where we've not had the density in the home and commercial building that maybe we could have," Lyon said.Some say the solution to preserving farms goes beyond the fence lines and into the community."I think the concern is the declining population and rural areas and how we provide health care and educational services to them," Lyon said.Another challenge is keeping the next generation interested in continuing the farming tradition."I really enjoy it, and I think that's something that I'd want to do," said Jake Hoesly, one of Tricia and Todd Hoesly's two children.The report called for new programs to preserve farmland, including grant programs to purchase 25-year easements or partnering with local governments for purchase of development rights.All 80 recommendations in the report will now go to the state secretary of the Department of Agriculture for consideration.
Previous Stories:
- October 3, 2007: Report: State Losing 30,000 Acres Of Farmland Per Year
- September 19, 2007: Farm Technology Exposition Highlights Green Equipment
- September 17, 2007: More Dairy Farmers Selling Milk, Cheese Right Off Farm
- September 15, 2007: Homegrown Wisconsin Builds Relationships Between Farmers, Chefs
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