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SF 42 ?????????

Critter

Critter

Life Member
I'm not sure where this one stands right now, but it's pretty interesting. How many resident/non-resident landowners have their timber in the reserve program for tax reasons.......I know I do.
CRITR

Senate File 42

PAG LIN



1 1 Section 1. Section 427C.3, Code 2005, is amended by adding
1 2 the following new unnumbered paragraph:
1 3 NEW UNNUMBERED PARAGRAPH. On and after January 1, 2006, an
1 4 owner making application for a tax exemption for a forest
1 5 reservation shall agree to allow public access for walk=in
1 6 hunting on the forest reservation during the period of tax
1 7 exemption. The county conservation board shall provide
1 8 appropriate boundary signs for the forest reservation. The
1 9 signs shall be erected and maintained by the owner of the
1 10 forest reservation.
1 11 EXPLANATION
1 12 This bill provides that on and after January 1, 2006, an
1 13 owner making application for a tax exemption for a forest
1 14 reservation shall agree to allow public access for walk=in
1 15 hunting on the forest reservation during the period of tax
1 16 exemption. The county conservation board shall provide
1 17 appropriate boundary signs for the forest reservation. The
1 18 signs shall be erected and maintained by the owner of the
1 19 forest reservation.
1 20 LSB 1742SS 81
1 21 av/pj/5
 
That would be unfortunate! The benefits to our water quality alone from the CRP program justify keeping it a private program. I see the point, but I think many would pull there land out of the program due to this and that would be to the detriment of all of us in the end!
 
Not sure if I followed you correctly or not DOR, but I don't know if this has anything to do with the CRP program. It was my understanding that it was something different directed soley at timber/tree/forest. I know my small acreage is enrolled in it, it was that way when I purchased it 3 years ago. I think the only stipulation is that you maintain at least 100 trees per acre.(if I remember correctly) Either way, you're right, I think a-lot of people would probably pull out.......I for one would probably do the same.
CRITR
 
I doubt that this would have much negative impact on the environment. You might see some folks running livestock on timber previously enrolled but I'll bet the tax revenues would go up as people took this out of the program. I doubt most would let it serve as public access just for the tax savings.
 
I think it would get a little dangerous if it wasn't very big, I mean it is like public hunting right? and it is going to be a lot smaller than most public hunting spots would be my guess. that is if you are saying what I think you are
 
The way I was reading this is that anyone with any ground in the reserve program to avoid the tax would have to allow public access to the tract involved. Could be any size that was enrolled. Did I miss something?
 
Enrolled on or after January 1st, 2006.

Sign up for the tax exemption would fall to about zero. If it would go back to previously enrolled ground and pass, I know I would be paying some more property taxes.
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Anyone know if enrollment passes with ownership? Once enrolled and off the tax book does it stay that way? I wonder how this would affect tree planting programs? My long term plan is to put another 20-25% of my tilled ground into trees.
 
Pharmer...in my case enrollment passed with ownership. If I remember correctly I just signed a transfer paper for the program. I'm not fully aware of what it takes for new enrollment. If I remember it required 200 trees per acre and there could be no cattle grazing. I did pull out 10 arces when I started building my house and fenced a cattle pasture.
 
Ghost- My timber wasn't enrolled when I purchased it but the only thing I had to do was provide a scaled aerial with the timber outlined. I had to apply via a short form that stated- no grazing. You can harvest timber as long as you maintain a certain number of trees but I don't think there was any specifics on size of tree so even if pretty much clear cut there may be enough small stuff left to qualify. I think you can do a new planting into CRP or existing pasture and qualify as long as you have the tree #/acre but I haven't been able to find that in writing.
 
Wisconsin has a similiar program and to be quite honest with you it provides alot of private land hunting opportunities for those of us who either cant afford to buy a large block of land or pay $5,000 to lease property.

In Wisconsin, you are allowed to put the first 80 acres in without having to allow public access and any additional acres can be open or closed to the public per your choice. The kicker at this point is if you choose to add additional acreage as "closed" lands your taxes are considerably higher than if you had the lands open to public access.

I fully support this type of program and as a sportsman you would be a fool not too. Many people who are enrolled in this program are older generation family farmers who really dont care if people hunt and need the tax break or corporate holding such as large timber/paper companies, loggers etc.

I have shot two on my nicest deer on these lands which would not have been possible without this option.

With the increasing inability to get access to private land, this type of program fills a unique niche.
 
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