Selection Criteria

AGRICULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS (67 points)

1.      Agricultural Productivity  - Maximum Points:  20 pts

Soil Classification Groupings

Group 1 – Group 2  (potential 130+ bu corn yields and 50+ bu soybean yields).....20 pts

Group 3 – Group 4  (potential 110-129 bu corn yields and 40-49 bu soybean yields).....15 pts

Group 5 – Group 6  (potential 90-109 bu corn yields and 30-39 bu soybean yields).....10 pts

Group 7 – Group 8  (potential 70–89 bu corn yields and 20-29 bu soybean yields).....5 pts

Group 9 – Group 10  (potential 50-69 bu corn yields and 10 to 19 bu soybean yields).....0 pts 

Example:         70% of parcel has Group 2 soils x 20 pts = 14 pts and 30% of parcel has Group 3 soils x 15 pts = 4.5 pts       Total points = 18.5 pts

 2.      Size of Parcel(s) – Maximum Points:  20 pts

Multiplied by a factor of 0.2 up to a maximum of 20 points.  For example….

80 - 100 Acres in size.....16 - 20 pts

60 to 79 Acres in size.....12 – 15.9 pts

40 to 59 Acres in size.....8 – 11.9 pts

20 to 39 Acres in size.....4 – 7.9 pts

less than 20 acres in size.....Subtract 10 points from total score

(Committee may decide not to deduct points for parcels less than 20 acres in size if the parcel is adjacent to or within a previously protected property.)

Example:  Parcel size has 65 acres.  Total points = 13 pts

3.      Proximity to Existing Livestock Farms – Maximum Points:   5 pts

A livestock operation for this purpose means a farm with more than 100 animal units (EPA Definition)

Located less than 0.5 miles of an existing livestock operation.....5 pts

Located between 0.5 miles and 1 mile of an existing livestock operation.....3 pts

Located further than 1 mile from an existing livestock operation.....0 pts 

4.      Additional Agricultural Income – Maximum Points: 5 pts

Gross sales will be an average of 3 years and must be animal related or designated as specialty crop sales.

Gross animal or specialty crop related  sales of more than $150,000.....5 pts

Gross animal or specialty crop related  sales of $50,000 to $149,000.....3 pts

Gross animal or specialty crop related  sales less than $50,000 per acre.....0 pts

 Example:  Parcel is integral to farm operation that generates $150,000 in gross beef cattle sales.       Total Points = 5 pts. 

5.      Enrollment in the Farmland and Open Space Preservation Act (P.A. 116) – Maximum Points:  5 pts

If only a percentage of the parcel is enrolled, than the percentage is multiplied by the maximum number of points (5) to result in a score.

Enrolled in PA 116.....5 pts

Not enrolled in PA 116.....0 pts

Example:Two adjacent 50 acre parcels are submitted as part of the same application by the same landowner.  Only one 50 acre parcel is currently enrolled (50%).  Total points = 2.5  points

 6.      Soil Conservation Plan – Maximum Points:  5 pts

Implemented Soil Conservation Plan.....5 pts

No Soil Conservation Plan Adopted.....0 pts

Example:         Landowner has adopted and implemented a USDA-NRCS approved conservation plan.  Total Points = 5 pts

 7.      Amount of Land in the Surrounding Area in Agriculture Use – Maximum: 7 pts

75% or more of the surrounding land are is in agriculture production.....7 pts

50% or more but less than 75% of the surrounding area is in agriculture production.....5 pts

25% or more but less than 50% of the surrounding area is in agriculture production.....2 pts

Less than 25% of the surrounding area is in agriculture production.....0 pts 

DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE (20 points)

8.       Proximity to Existing Public Sanitary Sewer and/or Water – Maximum Points: 10 pts

Linear distance to existing, usable public sanitary sewer and/or water service will result in the following scoring options:

Less Than 1/2 mile from sewer or water.....0 points

1/2 Mile or more but less than 1 1/2 miles.....8 points

1 1/2 Miles or more but less than 3 miles.....10 points

3 Miles or more but less than 5 miles.....6  points

More than 5 miles.....4 points 

Example:  Parcel is located 3 miles from existing sewer lines.  Total points = 6  pts. 

9.      Development Activity in Township – Maximum Points: 10 pts

The townships will be divided into four groups and will use a three year average. 

Parcel located in a group of townships with the highest number of new building permits.....8 pts

Parcel located in a group of townships with the 2nd highest number of new permits.....10 pts

Parcel located in a group of townships with the 3rd highest number of new permits.....6 pts

Parcel located in a group of townships with the lowest number of new address permits.....4 pts

Parcel located in a city or village.....0 pts

Example: Parcel is located within a township that falls into a group of townships which have the second largest tier of new building permits.  Total points = 10 pts 

ADDITIONAL AGRICULTURAL PROTECTION EFFORTS (25 points)

10.   Location to other protected property – Maximum Points: 15 pts

Parcel is near other private land which has already been permanently protected from development through a conservation easement or deed restriction (development rights may have been purchased, transferred or donated).

Parcel is adjacent to protected land.....10 pts

Parcel is not adjacent but within 1 mile of protected land.....8 pts

Parcel is not within 1 mile of protected land.....0 pts

More than 50% of the land within a 1 mile (4 square miles area) of the parcel is enrolled in the Farmland and Open Space Preservation Act OR if the parcel is adjacent to land under public ownership that is specifically designated for long-term natural resource use or conservation purposes protected from development.....5 pts total, if it not, 0 Pts 

Example: Parcel is adjacent to a previously protected farmland parcel = 10 pts; 75% of the surrounding land within 1 mile is in P.A. 116 = 5 pts

11.   Agricultural District Zoning Designation – Maximum Points: 10 pts

Agricultural District or Area (Restricts and clusters residential development, 1:10).....10 pts

Non-Agricultural District or Area (greater than 1:10 dwelling density).....0 pts 

Example:  Parcel is within an area in which the zoning restricts dwelling units to no more than one per 10 acres and allows the houses to be clustered on less than 2 acre lots).  Total Points = 10 pts

OTHER CRITERIA (20 points)

12.   Additional Points Based on Matching Funds – Maximum Points: 15 pts

25 Percent or more of PDR Value.....15 pts

15 to 24 Percent of PDR Value.....12 pts

10 to 14 Percent of PDR Value.....8 pts

5 to 9 Percent of PDR Value.....4 pts

1 to 4 Percent of PDR Value.....0 pts 

13.  Unique Environmental or Historical Characteristics – Maximum Points: 5 pts

Historical or environmental characteristics, etc.

Parcel has unique features.....5 pts

Parcel does not have unique features.....0 pts

Total points possible - 132

Last updated on 04/11/06.