Agriculture

Tools and guidance to assist in the environmental documentation of the agricultural impact of a proposed project.

Legal Requirements

FDM References

  • FDM 20-55-20 Coordination with United State Department of Agriculture (USDA)
  • FDM 20-55-60 Coordination with DATCP
  • FDM 24-20-15 Agricultural lands (land suitable for cultivation and other uses)

Forms and Templates

See WisDOT environmental forms and tools page for factor sheets and guidance

  • NRCS CPA-106 Farmland conversion impact rating for corridor type projects
  • NRCS AD-1006 Farmland conversion impact rating worksheet (used for proposals that acquire blocks of land such as 10 acres)

Guidance and Resources

The federal Farmland Protection Policy Act (FPPA) is concerned with soil; the state agricultural impact statement (AIS) statute is focused on economic units called farm operations.

The state AIS statute requires WisDOT to provide DATCP with pertinent information whenever a project proposes to acquire land from a farm operation through the actual or potential use of the powers of eminent domain. The determination of whether to prepare an AIS, and the actual AIS preparation is the responsibility of DATCP.

Frequently Asked Questions

FPPA Form NRCS AD-1006 or NRCS CPA-106

Q. Does land zoned for urban uses or land within the corporate limits of a community qualify as farmland?

A. No, the U.S. Department of Agriculture revised its interpretation of the FPPA implementing regulations and exempted such lands from the requirements.

Q. When is form NRCS AD-1006 or NRCS CPA-106 completed?

A. Form NRCS AD-1006 or NRCS CPA-106 must be completed whenever a federally-funded project is proposed outside the corporate limits of a municipality. This form is completed and attached to the environmental document if the score in part VI is below 60 points. If the score is 60 or more points, the form must be sent to the state soil scientist of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, formerly the Soil Conservation Service) so they may complete their portion. When returned from the NCRS, the remaining parts of the form must be completed and the score totaled. The completed form should be attached to the environmental document. If the total score is over 160 points, it indicates that additional alternatives should be considered that have a lesser score, or that efforts may need to be expended to lessen the projects effects on farmland.

Agriculture Impact Statements (AIS)

Q. Who prepares an AIS?​

A. The agriculture impact statement (AIS) is prepared by DATCP from information supplied by the project team. Farms within the corporate limits of a municipality must be reported.

An AIS must be prepared whenever any urban or rural project would acquire five or more acres from a farm operation. An AIS is prepared at DATCP's discretion when a project would acquire between one and five acres from a farm operation. An AIS is rarely prepared if all acquisitions from farm operations are less than one acre and do not acquire elements of the farm operation that are needed for its function (barns, homes, outbuildings, wells, etc.)

Q. What happens if an AIS is not ready?

A. The AIS is normally prepared by DATCP by the time a CEC, ER, EA or draft EIS document is approved. Under certain circumstances, and in consultation with DATCP and Bureau of Technical Services (BTS), an AIS may be prepared before the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) or final EIS is approved.

If the AIS is expected, but not completed by the time the environmental document is ready for approval, the regional environmental coordinator should be contacted. They will contact DATCP and BTS and work to resolve any issues. It is important to note that real estate negotiations with farm operations covered in an AIS cannot begin, by statute, until the AIS is completed.

Data and Data Sources

NRCS for extensive information including soil surveys