Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - On July 25 at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, local farmers, agribusiness people, agricultural economists and other interested persons gathered to express concerns and ask questions of Rod Nilsestuen, Wisconsin's Secretary of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The meeting, one of many "listening sessions" conducted by Nilsestuen around the state in the last two years, addressed the prevention of loss of farm and forest lands to urban sprawl. This effort is part of the Wisconsin Working Lands Initiative.

Duane Ford, dean of the College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture, opened the meeting. Ford said that Nilsestuen has ushered in an "era of unprecedented bipartisan support for agriculture" since the governor appointed him in January 2003. This is attributable to his leadership style, which also takes him around the state to listen to Wisconsin citizens and generate collective support for reducing farmland loss.

Dave Wachter, Grant County dairy and livestock agent with UW-Extension, during his introduction of Nilsestuen, stated that agriculture in Grant County supports 6,000 jobs, 22 percent of the workforce, and brings in $15 million for the county. At the same time "development on what used to be farms" could lead to serious economic and environmental problems.

"Long-term, this is one of the most important issues facing rural Wisconsin, for the simple matter that God isn't making anymore farmland [the crowd laughed]. We're paving it over at a rate of about 24,000 acres a year in Wisconsin. Once we do that, it doesn't come back," said Nilsestuen in his introductory statements.

Along with many urbanization and farmland loss statistics in other regions of the U.S. - regions Nilsestuen says we can learn from - Nilsestuen explained his department's approach, "we're not looking for any silver bullet; we're not looking for a top-down 'the state has the answer, locals do the work' solution. We're trying to do something that fits Wisconsin and provides those who want to work in this area with more tools."

Nilsestuen stressed that the breaking up of farmland causes damage equal to developing on the land. The splitting of farmlands costs farmers in transportation and time. An even bigger problem is the decrease in farming. People giving up farming combined with farmland conversion equals local economic and social decline, as the businesses supporting those farms close and congestion rises.

After presenting the facts and state goal's, Nilsestuen opened a discussion with the audience. He encouraged them to present observations about local challenges and possible solutions to Wisconsin's farm loss problem.

Anyone interested in pursuing more information on Wisconsin's Working Lands Initiative may visit www.datcp.state.wi.us/workinglands/index.jsp.

Anyone wanting information on UWP farm programs or facilities may contact Wyse at (608) 342-1053 or wyse@uwplatt.edu

Contact: Phillip Wyse, director, UWP University Farm, (608) 342-1053,wyse@uwplatt.edu

Prepared by: April Schmidt, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, schmidap@uwplatt.edu