1999 Minnesota Statutes

     40A.14 Agricultural land preservation and conservation 
  awareness program. 

    Subdivision 1.    Establishment and administration.  An 
 agricultural land preservation and conservation awareness 
 program is created.  The commissioner shall administer the 
 program as provided in this section.  The purposes of the 
 program are to promote and increase public awareness of:  

    (1) the need for agricultural land preservation and 
 conservation and the consequences of resource degradation; 

    (2) the physical, environmental, and social factors that 
 affect agricultural land use; and 

    (3) the availability and effectiveness of agricultural land 
 preservation and conservation approaches and technologies.  

    The commissioner shall administer the program in order to 
 develop a working partnership between the state and local 
 governments.  

    Subd. 2.    Survey.  The commissioner shall survey 
 awareness of agricultural land preservation and conservation 
 problems, technologies, and available technical and financial 
 resources.  The survey must include:  

    (1) an assessment of related efforts of the United States 
 department of agriculture, the board of water and soil 
 resources, the Minnesota association of soil and water 
 conservation districts, and other related public and private 
 organizations; 

    (2) an assessment of programs in other states; and 

    (3) an assessment of attitudes among a variety of target 
 audiences in Minnesota that are involved in or affected by land 
 use decisions.  

    Subd. 3.    Public participation.  The commissioner 
 shall ensure the participation of a cross section of the public 
 in developing and promoting programs under this chapter.  The 
 commissioner shall actively solicit public involvement in 
 reviewing proposed agricultural land preservation plans and 
 proposed official controls.  The commissioner shall assist the 
 public in obtaining information concerning the status of county 
 proposals and the agricultural land preservation and 
 conservation assistance program.  The department may form a 
 citizen advisory board to assist it in assessing needs, 
 determining the feasibility of different approaches, and 
 securing applications for assistance and resources in local 
 situations.  

    HIST: 1984 c 654 art 3 s 44; 1987 c 358 s 34; 1987 c 384 art 3 
 s 42