Red Rock On Air

Area residents will soon receive a letter in the mail indicating changes in the Green Acres program, changes effecting both enrollment and payback. The Kanabec County board is sending their own letter…to the state of Minnesota. The board agreed, Wednesday, to submit a letter to the state requesting the legislature re-evaluate the recent changes in the program.

In the letter, the county states that the “Green Acres” program do not appear to be mindful of the land conditions of central Minnesota, and the changes to the “Green Acres” program do not appear to be mindful of the economics of central Minnesota

The changes include no longer allowing non-productive acreage to be eligible for the reduced agricultural valuation. Owners of the non-productive acres must either withdraw from the program or remain until part of the land is sold, transferred or subdivided. Green Acres gives farmers the chance to obtain a deferment from higher valuations and subsequent taxes on farmland that has been increased in value to reflect market prices paid in excess of farmland prices. Land owners must inform the county assessor of their decision in the green acres program by November 3rd.

The local legislators say they plan on looking at the issue again when the reconvene in January.