Selection Criteria for Protection of Farmland
2010 Application Cycle
AGRICULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS (62 POINTS)
1) Agricultural Productivity – Prime and Unique Soils Maximum Points: 20
Prime and Unique Soils
Prime under all circumstances 20 points
Prime if adequately drained 15 points
Not prime or unique 0 points
Example: 70% of parcel is prime under all circumstances (.70 x 20 pts) = 14 points
30% of parcel is prime if adequately drained (.30 x15 pts) = 4.5 points
Total points = 18.5
2) Size of Parcel (s) Maximum Points: 25
Points for parcels between 40 and 200 acres are calculated by multiplying 0.125 times the parcel size. Any parcel above 200 acres receives 25 points. Parcels that are 0-39.99 acres receive 0 points.
Example: Parcel size is 150 acres; 150 x 0.125 = 18.75
Example: Parcel is 85 acres; 85 x 0.125 = 10.63
Example: Parcel is 350 acres; 25 points, the maximum possible
Example: Parcel is 32 acres; (0 points for parcel less than 39.99 acres)
3) Additional Agricultural Income Maximum Points: 5
Points will be awarded to operations that have “value-added” agriculture either through animal related production or through production of a specialty crop (crops other than corn, wheat, soybeans), or both, with total sales over $10,000.00 annually.
Example: Parcel is integral to farm operation that produces a specialty crop, which grosses over $15,000 annually. Total Points = 5 points
4) Proximity to Existing Livestock Farms Maximum Points: 5
A livestock operation for this purpose means a farm with more than 50 animal units (EPA definition; 1000 lbs = 1 unit)
Parcel is contiguous to an existing livestock operation 5 points
Parcel is located between 0.5 miles and 1 mile of an existing livestock operation 3 points
Parcel is located further than 1 mile from an existing livestock operation 0 points
*Contiguous for this section means no other parcel is located in between the parcels. Parcels separated only by a road are considered contiguous.
5) Amount of undeveloped land in the surrounding area Maximum Points: 7
A circle with a 1 mile radius and with a centroid (center point) generated by computer is used to calculate the points in this section.
75 % or more of the surrounding area is undeveloped land 7 points
50% or more but less than 75% of the surrounding area is undeveloped land 5 points
25% or more but less than 50% of the surrounding area is undeveloped land 2 points
Less than 25% of the surrounding area is undeveloped land 0 points
DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE (38 POINTS)
6) Proximity to Existing Public Sanitary Sewer or Water, or both Maximum Points: 10
Linear (straight line) distance to existing, usable public sanitary sewer, or water services, or both, will result in the following scoring options:
Less than one-half (1/2) mile from sewer or water 0 points
One-half (1/2) mile or more but less than 1 mile 5 points
One (1) mile or more but less than 2 miles 10 points
Two (2) miles or more but less than 5 miles 8 points
More than 5 miles 6 points
Example: Parcel is located 3 miles from existing sewer lines. Total points = 8 points.
7) Proximity to designated population centers (as defined by Tri-County Planning; The Growth Project) in Ingham County (get date of project) Maximum Points: 20
Points are awarded based on linear distance from nearest farm boundary to designated population centers (as defined by Tri-County Planning; The Growth Project)
Farm boundary is 2 miles from population center 20 points
Farm boundary is 3 miles from population center 18 points
Farm boundary is 4 miles from population center 16 points
Farm boundary is 5 miles from population center 14 points
Farm boundary is more than 5 miles from population center 0 points
Example: Farm is located 2 miles from “designated population center. Total points= 20 points
8) Road Frontage (paved or gravel) Maximum Points: 8
Emphasis is placed on parcels with greater linear distance of road frontage, placing the farmland under a greater threat of fragmented development. Frontage can be gravel, paved, or both and must be adjacent to the subject parcel.
Road frontage of 5280 feet (1 mile) or more 8 points
Road frontage of 2640 feet (1/2 mile) to 5279 (just under 1 mile) 6 points
Road frontage of 1320 feet (1/4 mile) to 2639 (just under ½ mile) 4 points
Road frontage less than ¼ mile 0 points
Example: Parcel has 1 mile of road frontage. Total points = 8 points
ADDITIONAL AGRICULTURAL PROTECTION EFFORTS (38 POINTS)
9) Location to protected property Maximum Points: 20
Parcel is near other private land which has been permanently protected from development through a conservation easement or deed restriction (development rights may have been purchased, transferred or donated). Linear distance is used from nearest farm boundary.
Parcel is adjacent to protected land 20 points
Parcel is not adjacent but within 1/2 mile of protected land 15 points
Parcel is not adjacent but within 1 mile of protected land 10 points
Parcel is not adjacent but within 2 miles of protected land 5 points
Example: Parcel is adjacent to property under a permanent conservation easement purchased by Ingham County = 20 points
10) Agricultural District Zoning Maximum Points: 3
Additional points are given to a parcel that is in a designated agricultural district.
Exclusive Agricultural District A-1; (Restricts residential development) 3 points
General Agricultural District A-2; (Rural residential zoning) 1 points
Non-Agricultural District 0 points
Example: Parcel has been designated as an exclusive agricultural district, A-1 (maximum density 1 unit per 20 acres) under current zoning. Total Points = 3 points
11) Block Applications Maximum Points: 15
Emphasis is placed on applications which consist of one or more landowners who create a 50 acre or more, block of contiguous farmland. Contiguous blocks of farmland have a greater potential for creating a long-term business environment for agriculture. Parcels applying in a block application must be contiguous (touching but may be separated by a road). Each applicant in the block application will receive points for this section.
One or more landowners apply together to create 1000 or more contiguous acres 15 points
One or more landowners apply together to create 750 to 999 contiguous acres 10 points
One or more landowners apply together to create 500 to 749 contiguous acres 8 points
One or more landowners apply together to create 300 to 499 contiguous acres 6 points
Contiguous acreage of 299 acres or less 0 points
Example: Four landowners, with varying parcel acreage, submit a block-application of about 800 contiguous acres. (Each of the four landowners would receive 10 points for this section)
Note: If a parcel in a block application is preserved, the remaining landowners will continue to receive full points for this section of the scoring criteria in future cycles, provided they still wish to participate in the block application.
OTHER CRITERIA (10 POINTS)
12) Additional Agricultural Characteristics Maximum Points: 5
Additional agricultural characteristics are USDA certified organic farms or Centennial farms.
Parcel has additional agricultural features 5 points
Parcel does not have additional agricultural features 0 points
13) Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) Maximum Points: 5
Participation in the MAEAP demonstrates a commitment to environmental stewardship above and beyond a conservation plan. The State Agriculture Preservation Board has identified the MAEAP as a priority to providing matching funds. Farms verified under the MAEAP must show verification to receive points.
Farm is MAEAP verified 5 points
Farm is not MAEAP verified 0 points
TIER I TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE 148
1.) Donation Maximum points: 55
After the first round of scoring is complete, the top ten ranked farms will be invited to donate a portion of the easement purchase price back to Ingham County. The amount of donation will determine the overall ranking and the farms that will be selected for protection. Donations of 0-24% receive 5 points. Donations of 25-50% receive a point for every percent, with a maximum of up to 55 points. Tier II points will be added to Tier I points for a Grand Total (Tier I + Tier II = Grand Total). Grand Total points will be used to determine the farms selected for protection. This option allows applicants in the bottom tier of the top 10 applicants, an opportunity to ensure a spot in that year’s selection. It also allows the highest ranking application an opportunity to secure their seat in the top five.
Examples
Donation of 0-24% = 5 points
Donation of 25% = 25 points
Donation of 40% = 40 points
Donation of 50% = 50 points
Note: Donating part of the value of a conservation easement to a qualified organization such as Ingham County is considered a charitable gift donation by the Internal Revenue Service. Seek advice from a certified public accountant or other professional advisor on the effect of such a gift donation on your tax situation.
Note: Landowners that accept Federal, State or Local Matching Funds to protect their farmland may be selected for the program before landowners that do not accept such funds regardless of their relative ranking based on the above “Selection Criteria for Farmland”.