Planner presents draft farmland preservation goals; committee presses for measurable actions

Natalie, a regional planner with the Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, presented draft goals, policies and action steps for Richland County’s farmland preservation plan, which the planner said must be submitted for state review by the end of the year.

The draft retains core goals from the 2016 plan — preserving farmland and rural character, maintaining separation between urban and rural land uses, protecting erodible soils and sensitive waters, encouraging diversified agriculture and related services, and supporting infrastructure essential to farming. Natalie said staff merged prior policies with recent best practices from neighboring counties and incorporated DACA review criteria.

Committee members urged the planners to translate many of the action items into measurable “SMART” tasks (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound) and to cross-reference each action with the goal it is intended to advance. Supervisors also discussed contemporary development pressures — including large infrastructure projects and data-center-style proposals — and asked that the plan clearly signal that farmland preservation and water/soil protection are county priorities.

Natalie said the draft uses the latest available agricultural-census data (2022) as a baseline and highlighted trends such as a long-term decline in acres in farms and rising internet access on farms; she also announced upcoming outreach events, including town reviews of farmland-preservation mapping and a public meeting on well-testing results scheduled for June 25.

Next steps: staff will refine goals and actions with SMART metrics where feasible, incorporate town feedback on mapping, and forward the draft to county board and DACA for review before the December submission deadline.