Farmer Survey Results

Results

This figure shows how the different farmers perceive the phenomena of urbanization. Overall, most felt neutral towards increased urbanization, recognizing urbanization's advantages as well as its disadvantages.

This figure illustrates the responses from farmers regarding the encroachment of roads on their property.

This figure shows how farmers perceive the encroachment of neighborhood developments on their property.

This figure shows how the sampled farmers view the degree to which urbanization had, either positively or negatively, impacted their farming practices. Farms located around Huntersville (including East Lincoln county) as well as those near China Grove/Salisbury cited the most significant impacts.

This figure illustrates how interviewed farmers view the degree to which urbanization had either positively or negatively impacted their business. All farms except for Calico Farmstead felt urbanization had noticeably impacted their business. Calico Farmstead was likely less effected due to their distance as well as their stable customer base due to their long-time presence in the area.

About the Farms

Wild Turkey Farms

     Wild Turkey Farms is family farm run by the Menius family in China Grove, North Carolina. Wild Turkey Farms was officially founded in 1998 but the property has been farmed by the Menius family for over 100 years. Wild Turkey is chiefly a livestock farm with 46 of their 50 acres devoted to raising chickens, pigs, and cows. The remaining 4 acres are used for produce. Wild Turkey Farms has been impacted by urbanization to an extent, largely due to an increase in housing developments and some minor road expansion. However, Wild Turkey has also increased their profits as well as community interest in their farm substantially as a result of urbanization and thus are neutral in their feelings towards this phenomena. 

 http://www.wildturkeyfarms.com/

Big Oak Farms

      Big Oak Farms is a 60 acre family farm operated by the Smith family in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Big Oak Farms is a livestock operation specializing in cattle and has been used as a farm by the Smith family for over 100 years. Mild pressure from developers as well as the construction of new roads to service increased development has impacted Big Oak's business over the past few years. Though the negative effects of development and urbanization have been offset in part by an increased customer base, the Smith family views such development as ultimately bad for their business. Despite their awareness of urbanization's impact on their business, they are neutral in their view regarding the phenomena of urbanization itself.

 http://www.bigoakfarmnc.com/

Calico Farmstead

     Calico Farmstead is a large dairy family-owned farmstead in Gibsonville, North Carolina with an approximate area of 300 acres. Their property has been owned by their family for over the past 100 years and has been used as a dairy for much of that time. In addition, they operate their dairy as a farmstead meaning they produce all of their farming inputs on their property. Though their relatively rural location has prevented Calico Farmstead from being greatly affected by urbanization, they have noticed a considerable increase in housing developments in their area and are wary of future negative impacts that they expect increased urbanization to bring. Thus, they are somewhat opposed to urbanization despite a slight increase in profits they have enjoyed as a result of an increased customer base.

http://calicofarmsteadcheese.com/default.aspx

Houston Farm

     Houston Farm is a produce farm located in Huntersville, North Carolina and is run by Bobby and Patsy Houston. The Houston family began their farm in 1988 and were originally a livestock farm specializing in hogs. In 2002, they decided to grow produce exclusively and have since expanded their property in order to offer a greater variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. However, increased development and urbanization in and around Huntersville has made it difficult for Houston Farms to expand from their initial property. Thus, much of their current farm property, some of which they lease, is scattered around Huntersville. As a result, Houston Farms is somewhat opposed to urbanization as it has affected their property and farming practices considerably, though it has also expanded their customer base. In addition to produce, Houston Farms also provides various canned goods, jams, and jellies and can be found at both the Huntersville and Davidson Farmer's Markets every Saturday.

http://www.houstonfarm.com/

Barbee Farms

            Barbee Farms is a sixth generation family farm located in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. Family owned and operated for the last five generations, Barbee Farms takes extreme pride in what it does, stating that, “Our goal is to provide the community with quality, seasonally available products that are grown locally and provide healthy food choices.  Barbee Farms strives to offer courteous service and knowledgeable insight on our products and how they are grown.” Barbee Farms has seen and felt the realities of urbanization, as the size of their farm has been reduced from 300 acres to its current 70 acres. Most recently, the county placed a road through the front of the land, property that is “near and dear.” Yet, Barbee Farms is supportive of urbanization because it has allowed them to increase the number of customers to whom they sell food and the accessibility to the farm. Barbee Farms believes in compromises with urbanization and in smart planning.

http://www.barbeefarms.net/

Cheval Farmstead Dairy

     Cheval Farmstead Dairy is a 13 acre family farmstead located in Vale, North Carolina. Cheval Farmstead specializes in goat dairy products and is called a farmstead because they produce all of their farming inputs on their property. Cheval's location in rural Vale has allowed them to avoid many of the issues associated with urbanization that other farmers have experienced. Vale's population increase has been minimal over the last few decades and most of the property in that area are family farms. However, the owners of Cheval Farmstead Dairy are aware that urbanization may become a problem for them in the near future but nonetheless remain supportive of increased urbanization as it has allowed them to expand their customer base, particularly at farmer's markets in the area.

http://www.chevalfarmsteaddairy.com/default.html

Gilcrest Farm

Gilcrest Farm, located in Iron Station since 2005, is a 45-acre farm that raises livestock and heirloom vegetables. Gilcrest Farm feels that urbanization is “bittersweet development.” For example, they currently have a paved road where they once had a dirt road but with that they also have twenty-four new neighbors who do not appreciate the animal noises, smells, and things that come generally from being near a farm. Neighborhoods have significantly encroached on their property and the farm receives pressure from developers, however, even with frustrations about lack of responsibility among developers, Gilcrest maintains the idea that people clean food and clean land, they need a place where they can meet their farmers and know where their food comes from. Urbanization has bring more people to the farm and provided more markets and more customers to sell to, so much that this is the first year the farm has profited since opening. Gilcrest believes that planners need to have the foresight to think about the future in their current plans and to resist sacrificing land necessary to grow crops. We need to have a “nation of farmers” again who use their land in a smart manner to harmoniously integrate urban land with agricultural land http://gilcrestnc.com/index.html


 Twin Oak Farms          

Twin Oak Farms is a 120 acre farm located in China Grove, North Carolina. The farm provides conventional produce. Although Twin Oaks has not been affected much by urbanization, the farm does have to comply fully to regulations and buffer zones, which limit where they can spray. Twin Oaks is one of the founding farms at the Davidson Farmers Market and has been able to expand its market and increase retail sale with more customers because of urbanization.


KC Farms
            

Founded in 1997, KC Farms is a 10 acre farm that produces uncertified organic produce as well as black angus beef. Although KC Farms has seen much growth nearby their farm, they have not been directly affected by urbanization. Most notably, KC Farms is located just miles from Lowes Corporate Headquarters, where they have recently begun running their own indoor farmers market once a week. KC Farms cites that urbanization is a “double edge sword” because it causes negative implications like raising taxes and zoning but also brings in and expands business opportunities liketheir relationship with Lowes. KC Farms hopes that people understand the importance of farming and realize that you therefore must be patient for various fruits and vegetables because different seasons allow for differentcrops.