Later this year, Ansonville farmer John Springer will likely run his grain dryers 24 hours a day for days at a time. In a few weeks, tractors and other farm equipment will be creeping down rural roads as farmers begin planting their crops and spraying fertilizer. Right now, most folks who live in the rural areas are used to it. But, in a few years, Charlotte's sprawling growth could reach this area, and farmers like Springer could face nuisance suits from neighbors who have moved to the country from the city. They could face those problems, that is, but in all likelihood, they won't, thanks to what's called a voluntary agricultural district, which was approved by the Anson County Board of Commissioners last week.

"The whole idea with the voluntary ag district program is to increase awareness of people in the community that they live in a farming community," explained Janine Rywak, director of Anson County Cooperative Extension. Rywak has spearheaded the effort to create the districts in Anson County. "It offers protection for [the farmers] when people move to the area. The western part of the county is already seeing that growth. We've been protected a little bit by the current economy but... we have seen people purchasing land in Anson County because they've run out of land in other areas. When you get people building houses in agricultural areas, they think they want to move out in the country, but a lot of times, they don't realize what that means— the slow-moving tractors, the noise from the grain bins, the smells."

When those "city folks" experience getting stuck behind a 10-mph tractor, or smell the chicken manure fertilizing a field, or hear farm equipment harvesting corn and soybeans at 9 or 10 at night, Rywak pointed out, it could cause problems.

What is a Voluntary Ag District?

A voluntary ag district is described on N.C. Department of Agriculture literature as "a program for landowners that recognizes the importance of agriculture in North Carolina and fosters the growth, development and sustainability of family farms."

Up until last week, Anson was one of just 39 counties in the state that did not have voluntary ag districts, even though it ranks eighth in the state for broiler production, 10th for turkey production, 12th for livestock, dairy and poultry, and 23rd for agriculture overall.

The county commissioners voted unanimously to approve the ordinance to create voluntary ag districts in Anson at their meeting on March 3. "The commissioners are supportive of this because they support agriculture and know how important it is to the county," Rywak said, adding that 55 percent of the county's income is from agriculture and its supporting services, like local farm supply stores, timber and so on.

"The largest volume is probably poultry," said livestock agent Richard Melton. "It's the biggest income generator— a little over $90 million a year."

Because of the importance of agriculture in Anson County, the voluntary ag districts are needed to protect the farmers, Rywak said.

First and foremost, the program is voluntary, she stressed. There are two phases— voluntary ag district and enhanced voluntary ag district. The difference between the two is that the enhanced version is an irrevocable 10-year non-development deal, Rywak explained. "The difference is you can opt out of the voluntary ag district with 30 days' notice, just to give you an opportunity because you never know what could happen. The enhanced version means... you can still sell the land but whoever buys it cannot develop it for 10 years."

The districts also protect the farmers from nuisance suits that may be brought against them by neighbors.

"It will give them a buffer" against development as well, Rywak said. "Say, if the state is going to put a highway through their property, they have a legal right to a hearing. The state has to go through steps before that land can be condemned. As part of the hearing process, whoever wants to develop that land has to prove why they have to go through your land so that's a little more protection."

The districts also give farmers a leadership role in the county. In fact, six local farmers served on the steering committee, along with Rywak and Melton, that helped get the voluntary ag district program approved by the county commissioners.

Kevin Martin, who's in the hog business, served on that committee, and says he's "pleased and excited" to see the districts come to fruition.

"I think it'll be a real good thing for farmers in Anson County," Martin said. "If somebody buys a piece of property next to me, they will already know there's agriculture there. They won't be building a high-dollar home and then say, 'Oh, we smell chicken litter' or 'we smell hog litter.' We want to get these measures in effect before the development happens."

The program also calls for signs to identify farms that are part of the voluntary ag district so that when prospective home buyers or developers visit, they will realize it is an agricultural area.

Springer said he hopes the signs will help with the litter problem near his farm in Ansonville, too. "Maybe when people see the signs they'll keep their trash in their vehicles," he said.

To be part of the program, farmers will already have to have farm land that is at present use value, which is not taxed at the same rate as residential or commercial property.

The next step is to create an advisory board, which Rywak is working on now. She will present the potential board members to the commissioners at their April meeting.

Farmers will have to apply to the advisory board to become a part of the district. The program costs nothing to taxpayers, Rywak pointed out. In fact, the only cost to the public will be to the farmers, through an application fee. Even the signs identifying the voluntary ag district will be paid for out of grant money, Rywak hopes.

Development is Coming...

Springer said that he hopes the districts will "break the ice between city and country folks."

Development hasn't yet reached Ansonville, but, he said, "It's coming. It's something that you don't wait until it's here. In Union County, it's already heavy. I've seen it take a lot of farming acres. Not to say that I'm opposed to development but it needs to be done with consideration."

Over the last four years, Melton said, development has gradually sprawled out from the Charlotte metro area. "We've seen large tract purchases where people are selling their farms in Union, Mecklenburg or Cabarrus counties and then buy a farm here," he said. "Our concern is the next group that comes behind them is the group that pushed them out."

"I think the main thing it'll do is keep a fuss or disagreement from happening down the road," Springer said. "It will let landowners or prospective developers know that they are in a farming community... the main purpose is just to notify people and let 'em know what's going on in the community."

Right now, Springer's nearest neighbor is across the road. Farm land sits to the left, right and rear of his home. "Developers so far have not put any pressure on us," he said. "But it's coming."