Jen Forliti

Ten MN counties participate in the agricultural land preservation program.  These counties have allowed exclusive agricultural zones to be created or have elected to become an agricultural land preservation pilot county.  They are able  to impose a fee of $5 per transaction on the recording of a mortgage or a deed which is called a conservation fee or jokingly referred to as "Bucks for Ducks".   This fee is collected the time of closing on the purchase or sale of real estate and is  submitted to the county recorder, who in turn retains 50% of this fee and submits 50% to the State.  The statute states that collected funds can be spent on agricultural land preservation and conservation, soil conservation, incentives for landowners who create agricultural use zones and payment to municipalities within the county for any of these items.  The participating MN counties are Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, Waseca, Washington, Winona and Wright.  You can read the full MN Stat. 40A.152 at  https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=40A.152

 Courtesy of:  Annette Theis, Land Title and www.landtitleinc.com