November 14, 2002 - The Michigan Agricultural Preservation Fund Board is seeking public comment on its proposed standards, guidelines, application process and scoring system for selecting grant applications from local units of government for community purchase of development rights (PDR) programs, according to Dan Wyant, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA).

"This process helps build upon Michigan’s strong farmland preservation foundation. I commend the Ag Preservation Fund Board for its leadership and effort in developing a framework that is responsive to the growing farmland preservation and land use needs of local communities," Wyant said. "These communities will have an additional farmland preservation tool that gives them an opportunity to establish local PDR programs tailored to their specific geographic area and needs."

Wyant explained that the Agricultural Preservation Fund and Fund Board was legislatively created and signed into law (Public Act 262 of 2000) by Governor John Engler in June of 2000 to establish selection criteria and select grant applications from eligible local units of government for the purchase of development rights of unique farmland tracts. MDA oversees both the Fund and the Board.

Besides Wyant, the Board is comprised of eight other members: Wayne H. Wood, Chair and President of Michigan Farm Bureau; Jim Goodheart, Vice Chair and representing conservation interests; K.L. Cool, Director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources; Jeffrey Armstrong, Dean of Michigan State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources; Sharon Steffens, Alpine Township Trustee; Bob Zeeb, Clinton County farmer; Gil White, Ingham County realtor and homebuilder; and Don Brown, Macomb County Commissioner.

Under the act, and in order for a local government to qualify and apply for a grant, it must:

• Develop and adopt a PDR ordinance;
• Update the community master plan to include farmland preservation; and
• Provide matching funds of at least 25 percent.

Once an application is submitted, the Agricultural Preservation Fund Board will evaluate, score, and rank grant applications on five proposed criteria of statewide importance: the market value of agricultural products grown per acre; the loss of farmland acres; the amount of farmland in the county; the number of rural non-farm residents; and the percent of match and the portion which has been provided by the local unit of government.

Public review and comment is encouraged on this proposed scoring system, along with the overall standards, guidelines and application process. The proposal is based on more than a year of work from the Board and input from local units of government.

"Several counties are in the process of developing local PDR programs, so spelling out the Michigan Agricultural Preservation Fund application process in detail is crucial for these counties to know how they can come into compliance and be eligible for agricultural preservation grants," said Wayne H. Wood, Board Chair and President of the Michigan Farm Bureau.

Because MDA and the Board must wait until sufficient funds are available from PA 116 farmland agreement repayments and to allow for communities to develop local programs, the first grant cycle will likely occur no earlier than 2004.

For a copy of the entire proposed PDR standards, guidelines, application process and scoring system, visit www.michigan.gov/mda and use the keyword "farmland," or contact MDA at 517/373-3328 or via e-mail at harlowr@michigan.gov.

The public comment meetings will be held:

Northern Michigan (Roscommon)                           

Monday, December 2 – 4 - 6 p.m.

Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center

104 Conservation Dr., Roscommon

Site phone: 989/821-6200

Mid Michigan (East Lansing)

Monday, December 9 – 5 - 7 p.m.

Kellogg Hotel & Conf. Center, Lincoln Room

55 S. Harrison Rd, East Lansing

Site phone: 517/432-4000

Public comments on the proposed criteria may also be sent to Rich Harlow c/o MDA’s Farmland and Open Space Preservation Program, P.O. Box 30017 Lansing, MI 48909, by fax to 517/335-3329, or via e-mail to harlowr@michigan.gov.

"It’s a great opportunity for public input into this important program, which is one that Michigan Farm Bureau and the Michigan Farmland and Community Alliance remain dedicated to seeing succeed," Wood said.

Since 1998, the state has administered a PDR program that scores and selects farmland acres for protection by buying the development rights directly from the farmer, permanently restricting any non-agricultural use. To date, the MDA-run program has acquired 59 development rights easements protecting over 13,900 acres at an investment of more than $26 million. The Agricultural Preservation Fund Board proposal differs from the state PDR program in that it is driven by local community initiatives, rather than individual farmers or landowners, to develop farmland preservation programs.