Skip to main contentSkip to main content
You have permission to edit this collection.
Edit
Lake Geneva News
60°
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • user icon Guest
  • Logout
Read Today's E-edition
  • News
    • Local
    • State & Regional
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • National
    • Business
    • World
    • Multimedia
    • Markets & Stocks
    • News Tip
  • Obituaries
    • Share a story
    • Recent Obituaries
    • Find an Obituary
    • Archives
  • Opinion
    • Submit a letter
    • Letters
    • Editorial
    • Guest/Columnists
  • Sports
    • High School
    • College
    • Professional
  • Resorter
    • Event Calendar
    • Music
    • Movies
    • Television
  • Lifestyles
    • Welcome Home
    • Food & Cooking
    • Health & Fitness
    • Contests
    • Puzzmo
  • Feast and Field
    • Partners
  • Brand Ave. Studios
  • Print Edition
    • E-edition
    • Welcome Home
    • Special Sections
  • Buy & Sell
    • Place an Ad
    • Jobs
    • Marketplace
    • Wisconsin Public Notices
    • Shop Local
  • Customer Service
    • Manage Subscription
    • Activate Digital Subscription
    • Newsletters
    • Subscribe
    • Contact us
    • Help Center
  • Gift Subscriptions
  • Mobile Apps
  • Weather: Live Radar
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
© 2026 Lee Enterprises
Terms of Service | Privacy Policy
Lake Geneva News
News+
Where your story lives
Subscribe
Read Today's E-edition
Lake Geneva News
News+
Where your story lives
Subscribe
  • Log In
  • user icon
    Welcome, Guest
    • My Subscription
      Help Center
    • My Account
    • Dashboard
    • Profile
    • Saved items
    • Logout
  • E-edition
  • News
  • Obituaries
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Resorter
  • Puzzmo
  • Lifestyles
  • Public Notices
  • Jobs
  • 60° Clear
Share This
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • SMS
  • Email
Losing ground: The fight for Wisconsin farmland
Share this
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • SMS
  • Email
  • Print
  • Save

Losing ground: The fight for Wisconsin farmland

  • Sep 6, 2026
  • Sep 6, 2026 Updated 12 hrs ago
Prefer us on Google

Between 1997 and 2022, Wisconsin lost about 15% of its farmland, largely to housing development. Solar farms, data centers and golf courses are also eyeing this valuable resource. As older farmers look to retire, millions of acres will change hands in the coming decades. What becomes of that land could determine the future of the state's largely rural character.

(6) updates to this series since Updated 12 hrs ago

Private golf course to remove 270 acres from farmland, dividing Dodge County town

Private golf course to remove 270 acres from farmland, dividing Dodge County town

The landscape is a rural idyll, a farmer’s dream. That’s also what appealed to the founders of Kettle Forge Golf Club.

They lost one fight against a solar farm. Now this Dane County town is hoping to stop another

They lost one fight against a solar farm. Now this Dane County town is hoping to stop another

The company behind one of Wisconsin's largest solar farm in eastern Dane County wants approval from state regulators to expand the already-controversial project.

As older farmers retire, new ones find they can't afford to buy in

As older farmers retire, new ones find they can't afford to buy in

The average agricultural sale value per acre in Wisconsin has risen 70% since 2020. Counties in Southern Wisconsin led the way.

This Dane County town bet against sprawl. Fifty years later, it's still paying off

This Dane County town bet against sprawl. Fifty years later, it's still paying off

While Dane County loses farmland to sprawl, one small town has spent almost 50 years paying farmers not to sell.

Private golf course to remove 270 acres from farmland, dividing Dodge County town

Private golf course to remove 270 acres from farmland, dividing Dodge County town

The landscape is a rural idyll, a farmer’s dream. That’s also what appealed to the founders of Kettle Forge Golf Club.

This Dane County town bet against sprawl. Fifty years later, it's still paying off

This Dane County town bet against sprawl. Fifty years later, it's still paying off

While Dane County loses farmland to sprawl, one small town has spent almost 50 years paying farmers not to sell.

As featured on

Lake Geneva News
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
Prefer us on Google

Sites & Partners

  • Submission Forms
  • Place an Ad
  • Calendar
  • Rack Locations
  • Search
  • Weather

Services

  • E-edition
  • Email Newsletters
  • Customer Service
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Work Here
  • Dealer Returns

© Copyright 2026 Lake Geneva News, 315 Broad St. Lake Geneva, WI 53147

A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Advertising Terms of Use | Do Not Sell My Info | Cookie Preferences

Powered by BLOX Content Management System from bloxdigital.com.

  • Notifications
  • Settings
You don't have any notifications.

Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device.

Topics

Breaking News

News Alerts

You are logged in
 Switch accounts
Secure transaction. Cancel anytime. Have an account? Log In

Sign Up

Account processing issue - the email address may already exist

User information
This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely!
Your email address will be used to confirm your account. We won't share it with anyone else.

Must be at least 8 characters, not contain repeating characters (e.g., 111), and not contain sequential numbers (e.g., 123).

Create a password that only you will remember. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address.
Confirm your password.
Have an account? Log In

You're all set!

Thank you .

Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.

Check your email for details.

OK

Log In

Invalid password or account does not exist

Forgot your password?
Email me a log in link
Admin login Subscribe
Need an account? Sign Up

Reset Password

Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.

Forgot Password

An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.

Email me a log in link

Promotional Offers

No promotional rates found.

Purchase Gift Purchase Access

An error occurred

Secure & Encrypted

What's your email address?

Must be at least 8 characters, not contain repeating characters (e.g., 111), and not contain sequential numbers (e.g., 123).

What's your name?
Who is this gift for?
Who is this gift from?
Delivery date
What's your billing location?
What's your delivery address?
Subtotal:
Total:
How would you like to pay?
Add New Card

Secure transaction. Secure transaction. Cancel anytime.

You're all set!

Thank you.

Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.

A receipt was sent to your email.

OK

An error occurred

This offer is currently unavailable.