What’s at stake when Wisconsin loses its agricultural land?

Agriculture contributes nearly $105 billion to Wisconsin’s economy and over 11% of the state’s employment. As agricultural land disappears, so do jobs and businesses that rely on that land. Farmland also provides a significant opportunity for improving the state’s environmental resources and helping meet the increasing challenges of a changing climate.

Through our partnership, we hope to provide opportunities for community members and farmers that will help protect Wisconsin farm and agricultural land.

Looking ahead, an additional 515,200 acres of farmland will be compromised by 2040 if recent development trends continue. This is the equivalent to losing 2,400 farms, $377 million in farm output and 6,400 agricultural jobs.

The goals of the Wisconsin Farmland Protection Partnership Project are to:

• Dramatically increase the number of farms and acres permanently protected in the next five years.
• Utilize easement dollars strategically, where they are most needed.
• Leverage partner contributions to access federal funding for conservation practices to increase regenerative agricultural practices on protected land.
• Demonstrate to state decision makers that agricultural conservation easements can effectively preserve the state’s agricultural land base and advocate for state funding in support of agricultural conservation easements.
• Increase farmland access and tenure opportunities for historically marginalized and underserved farmers.