County assessors commonly initiate enrollment of properties in the program, but landowners are also free to contact their assessor if they believe they may have eligible wetlands. For information, contact your county assessor's office. Additional benefits of enrollment include a degree of protection from eminent domain and annexation proceedings, prohibition of public utilities development on enrolled land unless desired by the landowner, and relief from most assessments for public works projects built in the vicinity of the enrolled land, unless the landowner chooses to use and benefit from such projects. To be eligible, land must be located in a county that has provided the Commissioner of Agriculture with an agricultural land preservation plan with official controls to implement the plan, and be located in a part of that county zoned for long-term agricultural use. Both agricultural and forest lands may be enrolled.
Participation requires that a restrictive covenant be placed on the title to the property.
Termination of the agreement may be initiated by either the landowner or the county. Land remains enrolled for eight years following the notification by either party of desired termination, during which time the land must be maintained in agriculture or forestry use as specified in the terms of the covenant. After termination, conversion of property to non-agricultural use would also require a change in zoning regulations. For information, contact your county assessor or the Agricultural Land Preservation Program of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Get a free copy of the Sustainable Agricultural Resources and Information Directory.