Beginning in 2025, Dane County Planning & Development and Dane County Land & Water Resources will be running a pilot agricultural conservation easement program. The goals of the program are to preserve farmland and to protect water quality through the voluntary purchase of conservation easements. The creation of the pilot program helps meet the goals and policies of the County’s Farmland Preservation Plan and Land & Water Resource Management Plan.
Any projects funded in 2025 and 2026 will be considered pilot projects. Applicants, landowners, other funding parties, and the County will work together to bring projects to closing.
Financial Assistance
Financial assistance is available to local units of government and qualified non-profits for 25% of the acquisition cost of the easement, not to exceed $300,000. A total of $300,000 is available for all projects.
Program Eligibility & Application Requirements
For a list of eligibility and application material requirements, please click here. Prior to submitting your application, you must contact the Dane County Senior Planner to discuss your project. Please contact Ben Kollenbroich at (608) 266-9108 or Kollenbroich.benjamin@danecounty.gov to set up a meeting. Applications will not be processed until such a meeting has occurred. Following the meeting, submit one complete application packet to Ben Kollenbroich at the above email.
Application and Ranking Criteria
Applications are due November 21, 2025.
