Farmland Preservation Program (FPP) Summary

This State of Wisconsin program provides Sauk County landowners with over $500,000.00 of tax relief credits annually. Anyone who owns at least 35 acres and produces $6,000 in agricultural products per year or an average of $18,000 over three years can participate. The amount of tax credit will vary, depending on the household income and the amount of real estate taxes. To view your potential credit under this program, refer to the Tax Credit Schedule Worksheet (see link below).

Eight townships have adopted the Exclusive Agricultural Zoning provisions of the Sauk County Zoning Ordinance. Landowners in these areas must obtain a zoning certificate and follow a soil conservation plan to claim a tax credit. Zoning meetings are held in each zoned township every January for program staff to distribute certificates. Each participant must complete the Annual Conservation Compliance Certification Form (see link below) thereby certifying that they are meeting the soil conservation requirements of the program. Staff is also available to answer questions and discuss zoning and conservation issues.

Landowners residing in other townships not zoned for exclusive agriculture must apply for a long term agreement in order to be eligible for the tax credits. The Farmland Preservation Agreement Fact Sheet (see link below) available from the Land Conservation Department explains these agreements in more detail. A contract, signed for a period ranging from 10 to 25 years between the landowner and the State of Wisconsin, requires that the land remain in agricultural uses and that a soil conservation plan be followed. The agreement stays in effect even if the land is sold or transferred-transferring the agreement is easily accomplished using the Farmland Preservation Agreement Transfer Worksheet (see link below). Anyone interested in applying for the program should complete an application by June 30th in order to start receiving tax credits for that calendar year.