The Minnesota Agricultural Land Preservation Program statute directs the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to administer the Agricultural Land Preservation and Conservation Awareness and Assistance Programs. The purposes of the Awareness and Assistance Programs are to promote and increase public awareness of the need for agricultural land preservation and to provide financial and technical assistance to local units of government preparing plans and official controls under the program.

Adopted in 1984, the Minnesota Agricultural Land Preservation Program (Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 40A) is modeled after the Metropolitan Agricultural Preserves Act (Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 473H). Any county located outside the Twin Cities metropolitan area is eligible to prepare a proposed agricultural land preservation plan, and implementing controls under the program, for the Commissioner of Agriculture's review. Elements that must be addressed by county plans and official controls are detailed in the statutes. Counties adopting agricultural land preservation plans and implementing controls may offer agricultural preserves (an agricultural preserve is a restrictive covenant on qualifying land limiting its use to agriculture or forestry). In return, farmers receive property tax credits, protection for normal agricultural practices, and other benefits.

PROGRAM FORMS - The following forms are intended for use by local governments and on 8.5” x14” paper.

Metropolitan Agricultural Preserve Program Forms:

• Metropolitan Agricultural Preserves Restrictive Covenant (PDF: 33 KB / 4 pages)
• Application for Initiating Placement of Land into a Metropolitan Agricultural Preserve - Attachment A (PDF: 27 KB / 2 pages)
• Affidavit of Authority - Attachment B (PDF: 22 KB / 1 page)
• Notice Initiating Expiration of a Metropolitan Agricultural Preserve (PDF: 33 KB / 3 pages)
• Notice of Recision of Expiration Notice of a Metropolitan Agricultural Preserve (PDF: 20 KB / 3 pages)

Minnesota Agricultural Land Preservation Program Forms:

• Agricultural Preserve Restrictive Covenant Application and Agreement (PDF: 40 KB / 3 pages)
• Affidavit of Eligibility - Attachment A (PDF: 22 KB / 1 page)
• Notice Initiating Expiration of an Agricultural Preserve (PDF: 30 KB / 2 pages)
• Notice of Recision of Expiration Notice of an Agricultural Preserve (PDF: 30 KB / 3 pages)