Subdivision 1.Goals.

The goals of this chapter are to:

Terms Used In Minnesota Statutes 40A.01

  • Agricultural use: means the production of livestock, dairy animals, dairy products, poultry or poultry products, fur-bearing animals, horticultural or nursery stock, fruit, vegetables, forage, grains, timber, trees, or bees and apiary products. See Minnesota Statutes 40A.02
  • Development: means the subdivision and partitioning of land or the construction of residences on land or the conversion to competing land uses. See Minnesota Statutes 40A.02
  • Forest land: means land that is at least ten percent stocked by trees of any size and capable of producing timber, or of exerting an influence on the climate or on the water regime; land that the trees described above have been removed from to less than ten percent stocking and that has not been developed for other use; and afforested areas. See Minnesota Statutes 40A.02
  • preserve: means a preserve created under this chapter. See Minnesota Statutes 40A.02
  • state: extends to and includes the District of Columbia and the several territories. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44

(1) preserve and conserve agricultural land, including forest land, for long-term agricultural use in order to protect the productive natural resources of the state, maintain the farm and farm-related economy of the state, and assure continued production of food and timber and agricultural uses;

(2) preserve and conserve soil and water resources; and

(3) encourage the orderly development of rural and urban land uses.

Subd. 2.Methods.

The goals contained in subdivision 1 will be best met by combining state policies and guidelines with local implementation and enforcement procedures and private incentives.