forsyth county farmland protection plan€¦ · executive summary 4 ... the broad perspective b....

Prepared by Glenn Simmons August 2016

Paid for through a grant from the North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund

Forsyth County

Farmland Protection PlanGrowing the Family Farm Economyand Conserving Rural Character

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4

A. Plan overviewb. Reinventing the Rural economyC. Summary of Recommendations and Implementation Schedule

I. INTRODUCTION 9A. The broad Perspectiveb. Plan Purpose C. MethodologyD. Farm owner and Citizen Participatione. Data Sources

II. THE ECONOMICS OF AGRICULTURE 13A. Current Statusb. Trends and IssuesC. Farm owner and Citizen PerspectivesD. Key Findings and Challenges

III. DEMOGRAPHICS, GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT 20A. The Triad Regionb. Forsyth County Development PatternsC. Changing DemographicsD. The local Foods Phenomenon e. A History of CollaborationF. A new Generation of Farmers

Forsyth CountyFarmland Protection PlanTA b l e o F C o n T e n T S

IV. NATURAL RESOURCES 31A. Climate and Terrainb. SoilsC. Water SupplyD. Waste Water Collection and Treatment

V. LAND USE PLANNING 35A. The County Comprehensive Planb. The Growth Management PlanC. The Cost of Community ServicesD. Development ordinances

VI. REINVENTING THE RURAL AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY 38A. opportunitiesb. Conservation PartnersC. Farmland Protection Toolbox

VII. CONCLUSIONS AND DETAILED RECOMMENDATIONS 51

VIII. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND END NOTES 59

APPENDICESAppendix A: Farmland Protection leadership Team MembersAppendix b: City-County Planning board Resolution Appendix C: Forsyth County Century FarmsAppendix D: Authority for County Action

Executive Summary

Plan OverviewAgriculture is an important element of life in ForsythCounty. even as Forsyth County’s economy and pat-terns of development have changed substantially overthe last several decades, agriculture remains vital to thecounty’s cultural richness and economic diversity.Farms and forestlands contribute to Forsyth County’seconomic base by providing jobs and income to fami-lies and individuals across many sectors of the econ-omy. but farms and forests are more than just aneconomic issue as they are integral to the county’s ruralheritage, scenic character and environmental quality.In this regard, they contribute immeasurably to thecounty’s aesthetic and economic attractiveness as a cul-turally rich and diverse place to live, work and recreate.

Unfortunately, farmers in Forsyth County are facingnumerous and unprecedented challenges that threatenthe long-term viability and existence of the industryand the natural resources they protect. According tothe US Census of Agriculture approximately 182,500acres of Forsyth County’s total acreage of 264,000acres was used for farming in 1950. by 2012,according to the latest agricultural census data, only40,467 acres remained. During that same timespanthere was a similar drop of nearly 80% in the numberof farms from 3,370 to 662.

As part of a proactive effort to support farming andforestry, Forsyth County’s leadership has joinedtogether to support development of the ForsythCounty Farmland Protection Plan. leadership teamagencies and organizations include:

• Forsyth County board of Commissioners

• Forsyth Soil and Water Conservation District

• Forsyth County Agricultural Advisory board

• Farmland Protection leadership Team

• Forsyth County Cooperative extension Department

• nC Forest Service

• Forsyth County Farm bureau

In response to the leadershipteam initiative, ForsythCounty Cooperativeextension received a grantfrom the nC Department ofAgriculture, AgriculturalDevelopment and FarmlandPreservation Trust Fund (ADFPTF) to fund the plan’sdevelopment. The ADFPTF has assisted other countiesacross the state to develop similar agriculturalprotection plans. It should be noted that no two plansare alike. While acknowledging the many shared issuesfacing family farms across the state, the ForsythCounty Farmland Protection Plan is intended topromote a local agricultural economy that is tailored tothe county’s unique and specific needs. by developingits own Farmland Protection Plan, Forsyth County willbe contributing to a statewide effort to protect therural agricultural economy and the many natural andcultural resources that depend upon it. Such resourcesinclude the preservation of small family farms andfarm structures; the maintenance of the state’s scenic,pastoral landscape; and the conservation of soil, waterand wildlife habitats.

This plan is intended to meet specific grant objectivesand requirements established by the ADFPTF. bysatisfying the five plan requirements below, ForsythCounty will be more competitive when seekingadditional grants and funding sources to helpimplement the plan recommendations.

• list and description of existing agriculturalactivity in Forsyth County.

• list of existing challenges to family farming inForsyth County.

• list of opportunities for maintaining orenhancing small, family-owned farms and thelocal agricultural economy.

• Description of how Forsyth County plans tomaintain a viable agricultural community byidentifying and highlighting various farmlandpreservation and economic development tools.

• Recommended schedule for implementation anda list of potential sources of funding for long-termsupport of the plan. (G.S. 106-744(e))

The Forsyth County Farmland Protection Plan may alsobe considered an extension and/or amplification of otherallied community plans and initiatives. Specifically,many of the observations and recommendationscontained within this Farmland Protection Plan aresimilarly referenced in the county’s comprehensive plan,Legacy 2030 (2013); the Forsyth County Rural HistoricResources Preservation Report (2015); and the ForsythFutures, Forsyth County’s Community Food System: AFoundation to Grow (2013). As the plan is also in concertwith other community-based planning, economicdevelopment, and public health initiatives, it is projectedthe plan will stimulate a broader communityconversation about the many direct and indirect benefitsof a revitalized rural economy and the method by whichto achieve it.

Reinventing the Rural Economy north Carolina has a robust agricultural economy. ThenC Department of Agriculture estimates thatagriculture, forestry and related businesses generate morethan $78 billion annually thus making agriculture thestate’s largest industry and ranking nC eighth nationallyin agricultural sales. While Forsyth County’s annualagricultural production and timber sales of $17,418,000are relatively small compared to some counties withmore dominant, industrial-scale crop, livestock andtimber operations, it is nonetheless vital to the county’seconomy and quality of life. Many local farmers arefeeling the adverse impacts of the Piedmont Triad’s rapidgrowth and development, but new opportunities areemerging which may actually capitalize on that growth.More and more people are discovering the health andculinary benefits of fresh and better tasting locally grownfoods as well as the benefits of other locally sourced farmand timber products. Following a national trend, newalliances are being formed between local agriculturalproducers and consumers, creating new markets.Ironically, in spite of Forsyth County’s relatively smallsize and limited land area for development, populationgrowth and changing attitudes in favor of locallyproduced agricultural products may hold economicpromise for a new generation of Forsyth County farmers.

In addition to the Forsyth County Cooperativeextension Service and allied governmental agencies,

many community institutions, non-profit organizationsand private companies are working diligently to increasethe availability and demand for locally sourcedagricultural products. by connecting more localconsumers with producers and by advocating for local,valued added production and processing facilities, newsymbiotic market systems are being created between thecounty’s growing urban population and rural farmenterprises. According to the US Department ofAgriculture, north Carolinians spend $35 billionannually on food. Proportionate to Forsyth County’spopulation this translates into $128 million spent onfood. If only a small percentage of those purchases werelocally sourced, the multiplier effect would be substantialfor the local economy.

There are also unique and important aspects of ForsythCounty’s physical geography and cultural heritage thatfactor positively in the county’s efforts to reinvent itsagricultural economy.Much of the county’s ruralareas remain in closeproximity to growingpopulation centers.Decades of rapidpopulation growth andnon-farm developmentunderscore the opportunityand urgency to reconnectlocal consumers andagricultural producers.While there is no magicbullet to replace tobacco’s150-year history as thecounty’s mainstay cashcrop, this plan promoteslocal food production combined with a diverse mix oftimber and specialty agricultural products as part of theeconomic formula for success.

Just as population growth and demographic shifts havecatalyzed economic revitalization of many old, obsoleteand underutilized buildings in downtown Winston-Salem, so too might population growth, demographicshifts and trends in the local foods movement work toreinvigorate underutilized aspects of our local ruraleconomy.

Forsyth County Seal

This seal symbolizes thepositive relationship betweencounty munici palities andsurrounding farms.

Recommendation Implementation Timeframe ResponsibleAgency

Short-term Medium-term Long-term(1-3 yrs.) (4-6 yrs.) (7-10 yrs)

1. Promote Sustainable GrowthA. Review UDO to assure flexibility with zoning/subdivision X X X Ag. Agencies, CCPBregulations and agricultural uses

B. Update Voluntary Agricultural District (VAD) to comply X Ag. Agencieswith state policy

C. Create an Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District (EVAD) X Ag. Agencies, FC

D. Assist municipalities with potential VAD & EVAD Programs X X X Ag. Agencies, Various Municipalities

E. Work with County GIS to track and analyze ag. land uses X X X FC, CCPB, Ag. Agencies

F. Contract for Cost of Community Services (COCS) study X Ag. Agencies, FC, NCSU- Dr. Renfrow

G. Update 1997 Forsyth County Farmland Preservation X Ag. Agencies, FCAC, FCProgram Guidelines

� H. Explore options for utilizing Present Use Value (PUV) X X Ag. Agencies, FCAC, FCrollback funds for Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easements (PACE) program. aka, Purchase ofDevelopment Rights (PDR) program

I. Identify the extent of rural historic resources X X HRC, CCPB, FC

J. Support and assist property owners to protect historic X X X HRC, CCPB, FC, resources when requested Ag. Agencies

K. Annually review progress of Forsyth County Farmland X X X Ag. Agencies, FCAC, FCProtection Plan as needed

L. Support and coordinate Legacy 2030 recommendations and X X X CCPB, FC, WS, CCUC,policies with local and state agencies NCDOT, Ag. Agencies,

and other state and local agencies

page 6

Summary of Recommendations and Implementation Schedule In addition to various farmland protection strategies and tools identified as part of this Forsyth County FarmlandProtection Plan, the plan also includes a set of specific recommendations and action plan items. The following tablesummarizes the plan recommendations ranked for relative importance, a suggested timeframe for implementation andan associated list of participating agencies. A detailed description of the recommendations and action plan items canbe found in Section VII, Conclusions and Detailed Recommendations.

Note: Highlighted items indicate priority recommendations. Priority recommendations further denoted with a star(�) indicate the top priority recommendation as selected by the Farmland Protection leadership Team. leadresponsible agencies are indicated in Bold Italics.

2. Agricultural Economic Development

A. Support collaborative efforts such as the Forsyth County X X X FCFC, FC, Ag. AgenciesCommunity Food Consortium (FCFC)

B. Conduct a feasibility study for shared cold storage and X X FCFC, FC, Ag. Agenciesprocessing facility

C. Strengthen and expand food hubs, improve consistency X X X FCFC, Ag. Agencies, NCFSamong farmers’ markets, distribution networks, etc.

D. Explore small-scale and/or mobile poultry processing X X FCFC, FC, Ag. Agenciesopportunities to serve multi-county area

E. Enhance marketing for local farm products for farmers’ X X X FCFC, Ag. Agencies, NCFSmarkets, local venues, green industry, etc.

F. Review Agricultural Tourism provisions of the UDO and X CCPB, FC, Ag. Agenciesrevise as appropriate

G. Increase Forsyth County VAD and NC Century Farm X X X Ag. Agencies, HRCProgram participation

� H. Establish a Forsyth County Small Farm Association X Ag. Agencies

I. Support a “10 Percent campaign” for local government, X X X FCFC, FC, WS, Ag.institutional, and business employees and catered events Agencies, other

municipalities, institutionsand businesses

J. Review zoning codes, municipal regulations and policies to X CCPB, WS, Ag. Agenciesfacilitate and/or remove barriers to urban food access

3. Farm Transition and the Next Generation

A. Establish a Farm Internship Program for Agriculture X Ag. Agencies, FFAEducation students

B. Establish a farmer and forester speaker’s bureau X Ag. Agenciess

� C. Establish a “Farms for the Future” program for landowners X Ag. Agencies, FCto assist with estate planning, farm transition, PUV, conservation easements, etc.

D. Conduct seminars for attorneys and real estate agents on X Ag. Agencies, FCland use and transactions

E. Develop a “New Farmer Template” in the form of a brochure X Ag. Agencies, NCFSon buying farmland

F. Expand the Urban Farm School for urban agriculture X X Ag. Agencies

G. Expand NC Farm School opportunities for new and X Ag. Agenciestransitioning farmers

H. Provide production and marketing training for traditional X X X Ag. Agenciesand alternative opportunities

I. Support 4-H Club programs and youth activities X X X Ag. Agencies



Acronyms:Ag. ...................... Agriculture (farming and forestry)Ag. Agencies ........ Any federal, state or county agriculture

agency with an office in Forsyth CountyAsst. .................... AssistantCeS .................... Cooperative extension ServiceCCPb .................. City-County Planning board and staffCCUC ................ City-County Utilities CommissionCo. ...................... CountyeVAD.................. enhanced Voluntary Agricultural

DistrictFb........................ Farm bureauFCFC .................. Forsyth Community Food ConsortiumFSWCD .............. Forsyth Soil & Water Conservation

DistrictHRC.................... Historic Resource CommissionlC ...................... land ConservancynC ...................... north CarolinanCDA ................ nC Department of Agriculture &

Consumer Services

nCDeQ.............. nC Department of environmentalQuality (previously nC DenR)

nCFS .................. nC Forest ServicenCDoT.............. nC Department of TransportationnCSU ................ north Carolina State UniversitynRCS.................. natural Resource Conservation Service PACe .................. Purchase of Ag. Conservation esmts.FCAC ................ Forsyth County Agriculture CommitteeFC ...................... Forsyth CountyPlC .................... Piedmont land ConservancyPUV .................... Present Use Value property tax,

aka. Farm Use Tax Ag. DefermentRural GMA.......... Rural Growth Management

Area of the UDoRec....................... RecreationTDA .................... Forsyth County Tourism

Development AuthorityVAD .................... Voluntary Agricultural DistrictWS ...................... City of Winston-Salem



4. Education and Public Outreach

A. Support educational efforts of the Dixie Classic Fair X X X Ag. Agencies, WSSecond Agency

B. Pursue selling farm products and setting up agricultural X Ag. Agencies, education booths at parks, festivals and sporting events FCFC, WS, FC

� C. Conduct a marketing and education campaign targeting X X FCFC, Ag. AgenciesForsyth County residents

D. Support local educational programs outlining and X X X HRC, Ag. Agencies, CCPBsupporting the value of Forsyth County’s historic rural character

E. Expand farm tours and other activities to educate the X X X FCFC, Ag. Agencies, NCFSpublic about agriculture, local food producers and the timber industry

F. Encourage diversity of membership and leadership for all X X X Ag. Agencies, FCagricultural committees, commissions and boards

G. Annually present “State of Forsyth County Agriculture” X Ag. Agencies, NCFSto local elected officials

5. Forestry Opportunities

A. Establish an annual Landowner Workshop X NCFS, Ag. Agencies

� B. Educate the general public on the economic value of X X X NCFS, Ag. Agenciesforestry and the need for proper forest management

C. Promote Forestry education in schools X NCFS, FC

I. Introduction A. The Broad Perspective Many current challenges to Forsyth County’sagricultural economy are a consequence of global,national and statewide shifts in demographics, marketconditions, and governmental regulations. estimated atmore than 10 million people, north Carolina now ranksas the ninth most populous state in the country, and theUS Census predicts that two million more people willcall north Carolina home by 2030. even as northCarolina’s population and general economy have grown,so too has the state’s already strong agricultural economy.Ranked eighth nationally, the nC Department ofAgriculture estimates that agriculture and relatedbusinesses currently generates more than $78 billion tonorth Carolina’s economy thus making agriculture andforestry the state’s largest industry.

These figures are impressive, but they don’t tell thewhole story. Industrial-scale livestock and cropoperations account for large segments of the state’s

agricultural revenues. In contrast to Forsyth Countywith its rolling hills and higher population density, thestate’s largest farms tend to be located in less populatedcounties with flatter terrain and lower land costs. Forexample, in 2012, Sampson County located in theeastern part of the state generated nearly $1.3 billionin farm sales, or about $1,179,750 average per farm.by comparison Forsyth County generated about $16.1million in total sales or about $24,311 per farm. Theaverage farm size in Forsyth County is 61 acreswhereas the average for Sampson is 273 acres. Asmany large-scale farms have grown and prospered overthe last several decades, smaller, family-owned farmshave generally not fared so well.

Contrasting Forsyth County’s smaller family farmswith industrial-scale farms is not meant to diminishthe economic importance of farming in the county, onthe contrary, the purpose is to emphasize the vital roleof family farms. These small farms along with forestscontribute as stewards of the county’s rolling rurallandscape and all the ecological and scenic benefitsthey provide. This is in addition to their directeconomic value. Traditionally, a small family-owned

Photo courtesy Forsyth County Public Library photograph collection.

Wade Linville, son Richard Linville (boy on right), a current Forsyth County Commissioner, and a friend, Danny Linville (boy on left) look at their tobacco crop in the early 1950s. The farmemploys conservation practices such as strip cropping and contour farming.

B. Plan Purpose

Recognizing the imperative to protect the state’s rurallandscape and agricultural economy, the nCDepartment of Agriculture, Agricultural Developmentand Farmland Preservation Trust Fund (ADFPTF) hasprovided a grant to Forsyth County to assist in thepreparation of this plan. The Forsyth CountyFarmland Protection Plan thus satisfies the followingfive requirements:

• list and description of existing agriculturalactivity in Forsyth County.

• list of existing challenges to continued familyfarming in Forsyth County.

• list of opportunities for maintaining orenhancing small, family-owned farms and thelocal agricultural economy.

• Description of how Forsyth County plans tomaintain a viable agricultural community byidentifying and highlighting various farmlandpreservation and economic development tools.

• Recommended schedule for implementationand a list of potential sources of funding forlong-term support of the plan. (G.S. 106-744(e))

Luther Speas Farm. Photo courtesy City-County Planning andDevelopment Services

Map showing 52 of the state’s 100 counties with FarmlandProtection Plans.

farm in Forsyth County with a tobacco allotmentcould provide a stable farm income. With the tobaccobuyout in 2004, however, many farmers were leftwithout their mainstay cash crop. While there isn’t asingle cash crop to take the place of tobacco, part ofthe purpose of this plan is to investigate and highlightpotentially new sources of sustainable farm income. byhelping keep small family farms operational, thecounty can continue to conserve and protect its ruralopen spaces and woodlands for future generations.

In 1997 there were 59,120 farms in north Carolina.by 2014 the number had dropped to 49,500, a 17 per-cent reduction. even as the average farm size increasedduring this same time period, many small family farmswere unable to stay profitable and were forced out ofbusiness. In addition to the direct economic losses, it’simportant to note that 90 percent of nC’s total landarea and more than 75 percent of the state’s forestlandis privately owned. especially in the Piedmont Regionwhere there are few national forests or state parks, thecumulative loss of nC’s privately held farms andforests comes as a wakeup call to protect these re-sources not just locally, but as an essential part of theregion’s and the state’s overall scenic character and en-vironmental quality.

C. Methodology Actions employed to achieve the plan objectives:

• Assembled and worked with the ForsythCounty Farmland Protection leadership Teamto identify key agricultural and forestrycomponents and local stakeholders.

• Collected data on land use, agriculturalproduction, demographic trends.

• Reviewed current land-use plans, ordinancesand regulations to identify potential conflictsand opportunities.

• Conducted surveys and interviews with variousindividuals including county officials andleaders from farming, tourism and the businesssector.

• Determined infrastructure needs and marketingopportunities for increased profitability andlong-term viability of the agricultural andforestry operations.

• looked at landowner opportunities, met withyoung people and older leaders for ideas on thefuture of agriculture and forestry in the county.

• Developed a farmland protection plan,quantified baseline data, identified threats andopportunities, organized recommendations andoutlined action steps, priorities and animplementation schedule.

• Incorporated feedback from partners, localleaders and stakeholders to revise and refine theplan.

• Presented the final plan to the Forsyth Countyboard of Commissioners for adoption as officialcounty policy.

D. Farm Owner and Citizen ParticipationAs part of this plan, Forsyth County farmers andcitizens were asked to participate in the ForsythCounty Farmland Preservation Survey. The survey wasprepared by the Forsyth County Cooperativeextension office in collaboration with the ForsythCounty Farmland Protection leadership Team. Theextension agency tabulated a total of the 178 surveyresponses of which 78 respondents (43.8 percent) saidthey managed a farm, and 40 respondents (22.5percent) said they managed timberland. The remainderof respondents were citizens who expressed an interestlocally sourced foods and other farm products.

Approximately 90 percent of all respondents said thatfarming and timber industries were “extremely or veryimportant” to Forsyth County’s economy and wereequally concerned about additional farmland losses.As the survey results tended to support the observedstatistical findings and trends associated with farmlandprotection, the results will be used later in the plan tohelp clarify key farmland protection challenges. Farmowner and citizen perspectives will also be used to helpreinforce potential opportunities to reinvigorate thelocal farm economy. Among other questions, surveyparticipants were asked: “What are the three biggestchallenges facing farmers? Why are you interested inpreserving Forsyth County farmland? If ForsythCounty were to receive a grant (<$100,000) howshould the grant money be spent?” In addition totabulated survey data referenced in the plan, the surveyprovided a number of colorful anecdotal commentswhich aided in rounding out the plan’s findings andaction plan recommendations.In addition to the survey, more than fifty local farmers,foresters, local food advocates, historians, and governmental officials were interviewed individually.

Daniel Baird and his parents Frances and Wallace, owners ofTreehugger Forestry.

Joe Marion of Joe’s Landscaping.

Most of the interviews were conducted on site and afew over the telephone. These interviews were essentialto grounding the plan with firsthand insights intodaily farm operations and by providing criticalperspectives on farming challenges and opportunities.As with the survey results, information obtained frominterviews was used to corroborate many of the report’sfindings and recommendations.

E. Data SourcesData for this plan was collected from numeroussources. The bulk of statistical data for agriculture andfarming was collected from the US Census ofAgriculture, which is compiled from farmer surveysthrough a joint effort of the US Department ofAgriculture’s national Agricultural Statistical Serviceand the nC Department of Agriculture and ConsumerServices. The Agricultural Census provides a detailedstatistical summary of agriculture-related informationby county and is published every five years. The mostrecent year was 2012. Although the nature of

agricultural production can change rapidly, the Censusof Agriculture is widely accepted as the most thorough,accurate and consistent source of statisticalinformation related to farming. It demonstratesimportant trends over time and allows for an accuratecomparison of agricultural activity between counties.As a new agricultural census is scheduled for 2017, itwill be instructive to see what patterns have emergedin the intervening years since 2012.

other data sources include websites from the City-County Planning and Development ServicesDepartment, Forsyth County Government, nCDivision of Forest Resources, and Piedmont TriadCouncil of Governments. More information wascollected through interviews with farmers, landownersand other participants in Forsyth County’s agriculturaland forestry economy.

Photo courtesy City-County Planning and Development Services Department.

II. The Economicsof Agriculture

This section summarizes the current status of ForsythCounty’s agricultural businesses along withrepresentative trends emerging over the last severaldecades. Survey responses from farmers, timbermanagers and citizens will be highlighted along with alist of key challenges.

A. Current Status

Total Agricultural Production A snapshot of Forsyth County’s agriculturalproduction in 2012 showed the total value ofagricultural products sold was $16,094,000. of that,$14,368,000 consisted of crops and landscape nurserysales, and $1,726,000 consisted of the sale of livestockand poultry products. Approximately $1,600,000 wasgenerated by timber sales from landowners to timberharvesters. The 2012 Agriculture Census shows 662farms covered 40,467 acres or about 15 percent ofForsyth County’s total land area of 264,143 acres. Asthe following chart illustrates, 49 percent of allagricultural lands or 19,707 acres consisted of crops;23 percent or 9,347 acres was woodland; and 19percent or 7,567 acres was pasture. In 2012 ForsythCounty was ranked 86th out of the state’s 100 countiesin overall agricultural production. The following chartillustrates percentages of each agricultural category inForsyth County

The following table quantifies the production values ofForsyth County’s top agricultural products and theirrelative rankings among other counties in the state.

Item Quantity State RankGrains, oilseeds, dry beansand peas $2,466,000 70Tobacco $7,942,000 30Vegetables, melons, potatoes, and sweet potatoes $685,000 60Fruits, tree nuts, and berries $344,000 31nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod $2,350,00 46Cut Christmas trees and short rotation woody crops $17,000 50other crops and hay $564,000 66Poultry and eggs $32,000 76Cattle and calves $818,000 59Hogs and pigs $9,000 78Sheep, goats, wool, mohair, and milk $106,000 25Horses, ponies, mules, burros, and donkeys $685,000 13Aquaculture $42,000 35other animals and animal products $34,000 33

Total Crop Production of the 19,700 acres of cropland the following chartshows the percentages of Forsyth County’s maincommodity crops.

Crop sales of $14,368,000 accounted for 89 percent ofForsyth County’s total agricultural production. Thefollowing chart shows the percentages of revenuesgenerated from each of the main crop categories. It’snotable that tobacco sales of $7,942,000 accounted fornearly half of the county’s total crop production value,but was grown on only 9.3 percent of the total cropacreage. nursery and greenhouse operations were alsoa significant part of the total agricultural economywith $2,350,000 in sales. Most other cropcommodities have relatively low value-per-acre yields.It is notable that tobacco, with a per-acre yield of$4,333 was ten times higher than other commoditiessuch as grains and soybeans, which typically generateless than $400 per acre. In 2012, Forsyth County wasranked 30th in the state in tobacco sales.

Total Livestock Production livestock and poultry sales accounted for 11 percentor $1,726,000 of Forsyth County’s total agriculturalproduction value. While it is a relatively smallcomponent, livestock remains a valuable part of therural landscape economy and character. Cattle andhorse sales of $818,000 and $685,000 respectively,represented 87 percent of the county’s total livestocksales. notably, the number of horses in ForsythCounty was ranked 15th in the state, goats ranked 18th,and bee colonies ranked 10th. It is also notable that in2012 Forsyth County had no large-scale hog, dairy orpoultry operations, although small flock and backyardpoultry operations have increased significantly over thepast several years.

Total Timber ProductionThe nC Forest Service, under the direction of the nCDepartment of Agriculture and Consumer Services,administers forestry programs in Forsyth County. TheForest Service also shares several land managementfunctions with the Forsyth Soil & Water ConservationDistrict and the Forsyth County Cooperativeextension Service. According to the nC ForestService, in 2012, timberland in Forsyth Countyconsisted of 107,246 acres or about 41 percent of thecounty’s total land area. The greater amount, 101,267acres was reported to be located on private land while5,879 acres was located on public land. It’s importantto note that not all of the timberland observed fromsatellite imagery is being actively managed for timberproduction. The 2012 Agriculture Census shows thatof the total 40,467 acres in agricultural production inForsyth County, 23.1 percent, or 9,347 acres, wasbeing actively managed as woodland. For manylandowners, owning forestland for commercialtimber production is not their primary reason forowning forestland. They prefer to live in a forestedenvironment. In 2012 the amount of timber sales from land ownersto timber harvesters in Forsyth County was estimatedat $1,600,000. As timber harvesters delivered and soldtimber products to processing mills, an additional$3,200,000 was generated, although according to thenC Forest Service there were no commercial sawmillsoperating in Forsyth County. There are no detaileddata on the types of timber harvested in ForsythCounty, but generally products harvested in thePiedmont Region consisted of approximately 10.3

million tons of hardwoods and about 2.1 million tonsof softwoods. In both categories about 80 percent wassaw timber and the remainder processed as pulpwood.A stand of trees typically requires 20 to 70 years toreach maturity for harvest. Certain species ofsoftwoods (pines) are ready for harvest starting at 20 to30 years. Hardwoods (oak, walnut, etc.) require 50years or more to reach maturity for harvest. It’s notablethat the proportion of timberland in the state that isprivately owned is greatest in the Piedmont region at93 percent, compared to 72 percent in the coastalplain and 71 percent in the mountains. Whereas mosttimber harvested in Forsyth County is clear cut andsold for wholesale processing there is at least one small-scale tree farm operation that selectively harvests andmills timber for custom applications on the premises.

B. Trends and Issues

The number of farms and acreage in agriculture is in decline.According to the US Census of Agricultureapproximately 182,500 acres of Forsyth County’s total

264,000 acres was farmland in 1950. by 2012 only40,467 acres remained. During that same timespan thefollowing graph shows a similar drop of nearly 80percent in the number of county farms from 3,370 to662. The following graph illustrates the decline.

Agricultural sales remain fairly constant, but consistently low.The precipitous drop in the number of farms hasstabilized during the last couple of decades, but at aconsistently low level of production. With totalagricultural sales production of $16.1 million thecounty was ranked 86th out of the state’s 100 counties

Forest Cover inForsyth County

Map courtesy of theNC Forest Service.

Number of Farms

in 2012. The following graph illustrates that between1992 and 2012 crop production accounted for roughly85 percent of the county’s total agricultural sales andlivestock production roughly 15 percent. Forcomparison it’s instructive to note that the 2010 USCensus reported Forsyth County’s overall economicoutput in 2007 was $27 billion.

Half of the county’s farms produce sales less than $2,500 annually. Agricultural sales in Forsyth County have remainedfairly constant over the last couple of decades. onlyabout half of the farms produced sales greater than$2,500 annually. The following chart ranks farm prod-uct sales between 1997 and 2012. only a few farmerssell enough product to earn a living wage from farmingalone; most farmers either have another primary occu-pation or other source of income. While many ownersof the county’s 662 farms may enjoy the rural lifestyle,it’s not surprising only one-third identify farming astheir primary occupation.

Farms are impacted by higher productioncosts and reduced profitability.Few farmers have enjoyed relatively strong sales, butoverall profitability is trending lower as operationalcosts such as labor, fuel, fertilizer, seed, feed and otherexpenses have been increasing. Although agriculturalsales in 2012 totaled $16,094,000, Forsyth Countyfarms cumulatively experienced a net loss of $700,000once production expenses were deducted. Two-hundred fifteen farms reported net gains, but 447reported net losses. This translated into average farmsales of $24,311, but for the first time since the USAgricultural Census has been keeping records, the2012 the census reported an average net loss of $1,057per farm in Forsyth County after expenses.

For many farm owners whose primary income stemsfrom a non-farm job, breaking even or making a smallprofit was simply a way to continue living on the farmand paying the property taxes. even though manyfarms are “hobby farms” where profit is less of aconcern, the trend toward higher operating costs andstagnant sales suggests that even this lifestyle strategymay not be sustainable in the long run. The followingchart illustrates the tension between Forsyth County’sagricultural sales, operational expenses and net income.

Low-priced commodity crops can’t compete with tobacco. Adding to the problem of higher operational costs arethe relatively low prices and thin profit marginsassociated with crops such as corn, wheat andsoybeans. Generally, such agricultural commoditiesrequire much larger tracts of land to achieve theeconomies of scale to be profitable. Whereas tobacco,

Forsyth County AgriculturalProduct Sales

Farms by Value of Sales

Average Farm Costs/Sales/Net Income(Adjusted for Inflation)

the region’s traditional cash crop, was able to providemany smaller farms with a sustainable family income,other commodity crops simply cannot produce acomparable profit.

Tobacco is still profitable for a few, but the end of thefederal tobacco price support program, aka. “tobaccobuyout” in 2004 brought big changes. Today there ismuch uncertainty about the future of tobacco, asfarmers must contract individually with tobacco buyerson an annual basis. The problem became even moreacute as a significant loss of cash flow to formertobacco farmers ended when all tobacco buyoutpayments stopped in 2014. Former tobacco farmersstruggle to find other means of producing income.Some older farmers have retired while others havetransitioned into grains, livestock, forestry, etc. tomaintain their local property tax deferral.

Development pressure competes with local farm operations. While some farmers have benefited from greatereconomies of scale by increasing the size of their farmoperations, farmers in Forsyth County are hamperedby the county’s rapid population growth. existingfarms must compete with new non-farm developmentand any plans for expansion are often thwarted by thehigher costs of land itself. Issues of litter, trespassing,vehicular traffic, and a general intolerance of farmsmells, noise, etc. by non-farm neighbors adverselyaffects farmers. The following chart shows the inverserelationship between Forsyth County’s 250 percentincrease in population versus the nearly 80 percentdecline in the amount of land in agriculture over thelast sixty years.

Higher land costs impede farm retention and expansion.The average price of farmland in Forsyth Countyincreased nearly fivefold from $1,667 per acre in 1950to $8,309 per acre in 2012 (adjusted for inflation). Asland prices have increased many farmers have decidedto cash out of farming altogether rather try to improveprofit margins by expanding their operations. Prior tothe Great Recession in 2008 many farms were sold forresidential subdivisions and non-residentialdevelopments. between 2006 and 2007, nearly 4,000residential subdivision lots were preliminarily approvedwithin the Winston-Salem and Forsyth Countyjurisdictions. In the succeeding six years after 2008 atotal of 613 lots were approved, of which only 206 lotswere located within the County jurisdiction. While thesuburban subdivision rush has abated somewhat, it’snotable that all land in Forsyth County can besubdivided in accordance with underlying zoningdistrict regulations. even land zoned AgriculturalDistrict (AG) permits residential subdivision of lots assmall as 40,000 square feet. The following graphillustrates the increased cost of agricultural land inForsyth County over the last sixty years.

More timber is being cut than regenerated.Although timber is an industry, preserving forestland iscrucial to protecting Forsyth County’s environmentalquality and scenic character. Wooded hillsides andforested streams are the natural backyards for manycommunities, serving as society’s connection to natureand improving our quality of life. In and around urbanareas, forests offer additional benefits by improving airquality and mitigating the adverse impacts of storm

Population vs. Farmland

Agricultural Land Costs per Acre

water runoff and the urban heat island effect.Forestlands also provide habitat for wildlife and offerrecreational and other outdoor benefits. As with otheraspects of agriculture, rapid urbanization is also agrowing threat to the sustainability of trees and forestsin the Triad Region. Proactive management, strategicgreen infrastructure planning, and proper policydevelopment will be necessary to restore, conserve, andreconnect forests in our communities.

According to the 2015 Forsyth County ForestryReport, several trends have been noted over the lastdecade. Much larger acreages of trees are beingharvested than are being regenerated by replanting ornatural regrowth. Since 2005 annual tree harvests havefluctuated between 230 acres to more than 1,100 acresper year, whereas, replanting or natural regrowth hasbeen averaging between about 30 acres to about 270acres per year. While there’s no observable patternbetween yearly spikes and dips, timber harvests appearto be the result of individuals wishing to cash in ontheir timber assets and/or the result of timber clearedfor new development. The Forsyth County Foresteralso noted a steady decline since the early 2000’s in thenumber of forestry plans being written, withoccasional spikes attributed to re-evaluation years bythe Forsyth County Tax Assessor. It is also the case thatthe nC State legislature no longer provides ForestManagement of Stewardship Plans free of charge.Quotes are now provided and must be signed prior toa site visit by a forestry agent. local foresters can assistlandowners of small tracts in municipal areas withurban tree concerns.

The 2010 nC Forestry Plan notes thaturban areas are more prone to insect-borne diseases such as the emerald Ashborer, the Asian longhorned beetle, theRedbay Ambrosia beetle, and SirexWoodwasp. The report cites urbanareas within the Piedmont as high-priority areas for tree conservationand planting efforts to improve localair quality. The report also predictsnorth Carolina municipalities willlose approximately six percent of

their current forestland between 2010 and 2030.northern Piedmont counties are statistically atgreater risk from ice damage. It should be notedthat just one major wind or ice storm can ruinthirty years of timber growth, whereas cropsplanted annually are less prone to such long-termcatastrophic consequences.

C. Farm Owner and Citizen PerspectivesSurvey results and interviews gathered from local farmowners and citizens reflected many similarobservations and trends exhibited by the statisticaldata. of 178 responses, 78 respondents (44 percent)said they managed a farm, and 40 respondents (23percent) said they managed timberland. The remainderof respondents were citizens who generally expressedan interest in farmland protection and the benefits oflocally produced foods and other farm products.

Specifically, survey participants were asked to identifythe three biggest challenges faced by farmers. Althoughmany of the challenges are interrelated, the rising costof farm operations was the primary concern. As thechart below indicates, encroachment by non-farmresidential and commercial land uses, the high cost ofland, and the need to identify and expand markets forfarm products were cited as basic challenges. one keychallenge that does not show up overtly in theagricultural statistics, is the concern many farmers havefor finding the next generation of farmers and themethod by which existing farms can be transferredfrom one generation to the next.

What are the 3 biggest challenges faced by farmers?Cost of inputs (materials, equipment, etc.) 63.3%

Cost of land 40.7%

Identifying business expansion opportunities 10.2%

Residential/Commercial development 52.5%

Changes in consumer demand 7.9%

Finding the next generation to farm 41.2%

Recruiting and hiring qualified staff 16.9%

Marketing products 11.3%

Farm transfer (one generation to the next) 25.4%

Neighbors or businesses that cause problems 24.3%

Other 10.7%

D. Key Findings and ChallengesThere are many overlapping factors affecting theprofitability and sustainability of Forsyth Countyfamily farms and forestlands. by evaluating statisticaldata and anecdotal comments from farmersthemselves, the following key findings and challengesto Forsyth County’s agriculture and timber industryhave been identified.

1. Tobacco buyout and low commodity pricesbefore the 2004 buyout, tobacco allotmentswere regulated through the USDA andprovided the owners of many small familyfarms with a dependable and transferablesource of income. After the buyout, farmerswere left on their own to negotiate contractswith tobacco buyers with no long-termguarantee that the contracts would continue.While 2012 tobacco sales of $7,942,000accounted for nearly half of the county’s totalannual crop revenues by 2014, tobacco saleshad dropped to just $1,850,000. In 1987there were 227 farms that grew 1,894 acres oftobacco. In 2012 there were only 15 farmersgrowing tobacco. The dollar value of tobaccosales per acre has consistently remained eightto ten times higher than comparable yields ofother commodity crops such as wheat, corn,soybeans, etc. However, with the decline infarms growing tobacco there does not appearto be another cash crop to take its place.

2. Higher production costs and reduced profitabilityeven as the total sales of agricultural productshas remained roughly the same over the lastseveral decades, operational costs includingthe costs of labor, fuel, fertilizer, seed, feedand other expenses have increased, thusreducing already thin profit margins. Whilenearly half of Forsyth County farmers haveannual sales of less than $2,500, meager farmprofits often helped pay the property taxes formany small-scale farmers. In 2012, for the

first time, Forsyth County’s overall costs ofproduction exceeded gross sales thusrepresenting an average $700 loss per farm.

3. Development pressure and land costsAs Forsyth County and the Triad Region havegrown, so too has the encroachment ofresidential and commercial development andthe corresponding costs of land. Resources thatmake farming attractive, e.g. flatter land andgood soils are also the very things that make ithighly prized for non-farm development —especially when access to transportation andmunicipal services becomes available. Theaverage inflation adjusted cost of farmland in2012 dollars has increased fivefold from$1,667 per acre in 1950 to $8,309 per acre in2012. Some properties farmed just 10 yearsago are now valued from $25,000 per acre toas much as $60,000 or more per acre.Consequently, more and more farmers areincentivized to sell.

4. Finding the next generation of farmersIn 1987 the average age of the principal farmoperator was 55.5 years of age and in 2012,61.9. The average age of farmers has alwaystended to be high and the challenge is tointerest young people in taking over the familyfarm or start a new farming business. Anec -dotally, the reasons for their non interest appearto be varied, among them lack of earningpotential, and interest in other professions. The consequences are significant as manyfamily farms are sold for non-farm develop -ment purposes when the opportunity arises.

III. Demographic,Geographic and Historical Context

There are substantial challenges facing localagriculture, but there may also be new opportunities.The Triad Region continues to adjust to macro-economic conditions, demographic shifts and newconsumer preferences. Just as the region’s traditionalmanufacturing economy has changed over the last fewdecades into a more knowledge-based, serviceeconomy; agriculture must also wrestle with the neweconomic landscape in search of innovative economicopportunities. This section will look at potential newopportunities and income sources to help protectexisting farmland and rural character and revitalize thelocal agricultural economy. Particular attention is givento local economic and demographic trends, historicalprecedents, and inherent features of Forsyth County’sunique geography.

A. The Triad Region

Forsyth County must be considered incontext with the Triad Region.The ten county Piedmont Triad Region currently has apopulation of 1.6 million people. The Triad is alsosandwiched between the Triangle and Charlottemetropolitan regions, both of which have even greaterconcentrations of economic activity and higher rates ofpopulation growth. While the Triad’s growth has notbeen as explosive as the other two regions, it isnonetheless keeping pace with the state’s rapid annualgrowth rate of 4.3 percent. because of its goodtransportation network and central location, the Triadis expected to continue to grow at its current rate andpossibly accelerate in the future.

With the Triad’s population growth over the last severaldecades, large areas that were once farms and forestlandshave been transformed into new patterns of urban andsuburban development. As lower density, suburbandevelopment has moved farther into the ruralcountryside, competition for land has driven up prices.new farmers have been priced out, and many owners ofexisting family farms have been incentivized to sell. The“gap” between Winston-Salem and Greensboro has beenparticularly impacted as the “Heart of the Triad” (HoT)initiative has focused on the development potential justwest of the Piedmont Triad International Airport. Asearly as the mid-1980s the American Farmland Trustidentified the Piedmont Triad as one of the nation’s mostthreatened regions for farmland loss. The following mapshows the patterns of urban, suburban and ruraldevelopment in the Triad Region. note that rural areasshown in green have population densities less than 100persons per square mile, whereas urban areas shown inred have densities greater than 1,000 persons per squaremile. Additionally, the following table compares keyfactors related to agricultural production andpopulation density in surrounding counties.

Photo courtesy City-County Planning and Development Services Dept.

Forsyth County in Comparison to Surrounding Counties2012 Total no. Total Acres Total Ag Sales Crop Sales livestock Sales Farm w/Sales Population Density

of Farms in Farms (Million) (Million) (Million) (>$100 K) Persons/sq. mi.

Forsyth 662 40,467 $16.09 $14.37 $1.73 20 885

Guilford 962 90,750 $58.20 $32.70 $25.50 75 794

Stokes 926 91,547 $31.44 $11.44 $20.00 39 99

Surry 1,256 126,897 $198.93 $45.57 $153.37 135 133

Yadkin 952 100,483 $124.67 $33.41 $91.26 117 108

Davie 640 59,618 $25.36 $12.60 $12.75 175 131

Davidson 1,062 87,310 $54.60 $21.75 $32.85 75 267

Map courtesy of Piedmont Triad Regional Council

Forsyth County is less populated, but has a greater population density than Guilford County. Forsyth and Guilford Counties have a combinedpopulation of 845,000 people and form the urban coreand economic center of gravity of the Triad Region.The two counties share many aspects of their growthand development, but it is useful to note a couple ofimportant differences. even though Guilford Countywith a population of 512,119 is 41 percent larger thanForsyth County with a population of 365,298,Forsyth’s total land area is less than two-thirds that ofGuilford County. Consequently, Forsyth County witha population density of 885 people per square mile is12 percent greater than Guilford County with 794people per square mile. In other words, ForsythCounty as one of the region’s two urban counties hasless land area to accommodate its portion of theregion’s primary growth.

Forsyth County anchors the western side of the Triad’surbanizing core and is bordered by Stokes County onthe north, Davidson County on the south, and Yadkinand Davie Counties on the west. All four counties aresubstantially more rural than Forsyth County butmany of their residents commute to Forsyth Countyfor jobs, shopping and other services. Just as jobs inForsyth County help support farms within the county,they also supplement the income of many smaller,family-owned farms in surrounding rural counties.

B. Forsyth County Development Patterns

Forsyth County is relatively small, but itsurbanized areas are uniquely containedwithin its municipal services area.

Forsyth County 1981 showing incorporated municipalities(above), and thirty years later (below). Maps courtesy City-CountyPlanning and Development Services Department.

According to Legacy 2030, Forsyth County issubstantially urbanized where 47.6 percent (125,658acres) of the county’s total 264,143 acre land areacurrently lies within one of ten incorporatedmunicipalities. The City of Winston-Salem is thelargest consisting of 85,627 acres. between 1980 and2010, Winston-Salem’s population increased morethan 75 percent from 132,000 to 235,000. What’smore, the state demographer projected in 2008 thatForsyth County’s population will grow by anadditional 120,000 people to a total population of

DATES19481980199020002010

DATES19481980

471,000 by the year 2030. This will increase thecounty’s population density to 1,154 people per squaremile thus putting even more development pressure onForsyth County’s limited land area. Given ForsythCounty’s relatively small size and rapidly growingpopulation within an expanding region, it mightappear that the prospects of protecting substantivefarmland are bleak. However, there are unique aspectsof Forsyth County’s history and geography that pointto new opportunities to protect rural farmland fromincreasing development pressure and potentiallyreconnect Forsyth County’s rural agricultural farmswith a growing population of Triad consumers.

C. Changing Demographics

Population demographics and attitudestoward living, working, and recreationallifestyles are changing. Population growth and development are often viewedas the enemy of farmland protection but some recenttrends may be reversing, at least partially, thatadversarial, “all-or-nothing, zero-sum” way of thinking.Much has to do with recent shifts in the macro-economy and the composition, attitudes andpreferences of the local population itself. The globaleconomy, as well as in Forsyth County is becomingmore reliant on knowledge-based industries. ournation, region and community are also becoming morediverse in terms of age, race, ethnicity, householdcomposition and other factors. As many younger andwell-educated people are seeking new higher payingjobs in knowledge-based industries, some prefer theconvenience of living and working in lively, morecompact, mixed-use urban environments. Many babyboomers and retirees are looking for many of the samemodern urban amenities.

These trends are playing out locally as evidenced bythe urban renaissance occurring in downtownWinston-Salem. As the construction of new suburbanresidential subdivisions declined substantially after theGreat Recession, many new multifamily residentialunits have been built in downtown Winston-Salemand surrounding mixed-use activity centers. oldbuildings once considered obsolete and unproductive

are being renovated for new residential, institutionaland commercial purposes thus bringing new economiclife and increased tax base to the city and the county.Just within the last ten years the Wake ForestInnovation Quarter and other parts of downtown havebenefitted from more than $1 billion in newinvestment.

Although thousands of county residents are attractedto living and working downtown, the urban lifestylecertainly is not for everyone. on the contrary, one ofthe charms of residing in Forsyth County is the fullrange of living and working environments from urban,to small town, to suburban, to rural. Just as a fewaspiring urban pioneers moved into old buildings andspearheaded downtown redevelopment long before itbecame fashionable, there are a few aspiringagricultural entrepreneurs who are finding aneconomic footing in what may mark the beginnings ofa new rural agricultural economy. economicdevelopment formulas at work in downtown Winston-Salem may be vastly different from the economics offarming and agribusiness, but as this plan will suggest,there may also be synergies between the two.

Outdoor dining on Fourth Street, Winston-Salem.Photo courtesy of J. Sinclair Photography/Visit Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem’s vibrant downtown.Photo courtesy of J. Sinclair Photography/Visit Winston-Salem.

D. The Local Foods Phenomenon

Consumer attitudes and preferences arechanging in favor of locally sourced foodsand other agricultural products.It’s been said that “techies are foodies.” Inasmuch asmany knowledge-based employees may love local foodsfor their culinary and health benefits, they’re not theonly ones. Consistent with the demographic shiftsmentioned above, many consumers are discovering thejoys of locally grown foods. not only are locally grownproducts fresh and better tasting, but many consumersappreciate knowing where their food comes from.Many enjoy getting to know the farmers as well as howand where the foods they eat are grown and processed.This emerging market trend is beginning to pay off fora new breed of farmers, many of whom are younger,share a passion for the rural life and would love tomake their living in agriculture. What originallystarted as a grass-roots phenomenon is becoming moremainstream, as some local restaurants and grocerystores showcase dishes prepared from local foods andspotlight locally grown products on their shelves.

Forsyth County consumers annuallyspend about $1.28 billion on food.

In a presentation made at the 2012 Winston-SalemFoundation’s annual meeting, nancy Creamer, aleading local foods expert and Professor ofHorticulture at nC State University, spoke of thetremendous economic benefits if only 10 percent oflocally consumed foods came from local sources.

According to USDA estimates, north Caroliniansspend approximately $35 billion on food annually.Proportionately, that would translate into ForsythCounty consumers annually spending about $1.28billion on food of which $128 million would be spentlocally if 10 percent were purchased from local sources.Given that Forsyth County’s total annual agriculturalproduction is $16.1 million, one can only imagine thepotential economic boon to the county’s localagricultural industry and tax coffers. Moreover, aslocally generated revenues change hands many times inthe local economy, the multiplier benefits to theoverall local economy could be even greater. Ms.Creamer cited one study in Seattle which found thatfor every $100 spent in a grocery store, $25 stayed inthe local community. Take that same $100 and spendit in a grocery store that buys from local farmers, and$52 is spent locally. buy from a farmer’s market, and$62 is spent locally. Clearly such estimates need to bemore carefully evaluated, but it’s not surprising thatthis is the same logic used to entice out-of-statecompanies to relocate here.

While no one expects locally sourced food products todominate in an era of global trade and conveniencepackaging, small changes in the buying habits of a fewcould have a proportionately large impact on thecounty’s overall farm income. Theoretically, if only onepercent of the money spent on food in Forsyth Countywere to come from local sources, it could nearlydouble the county’s current total agricultural sales. Inthe next section, Forsyth County’s rich heritage of localurban-rural foods systems will be examined to see howmodels from the past may have practical application intoday’s agricultural economy.

Ronnie’s Country Store, North Cherry Street, Winston-Salem.Photo courtesy City-County Planning and Development Services Dept.

Cobblestone Market patrons. Photo courtesy City-County Planning and Development Services Dept.

E. A History of Collaboration

Historical relationships between ForsythCounty’s farms and commercial centersmay point to new agricultural models.From its colonial beginnings in the mid-1700s,Forsyth County’s history is rich, storied andextraordinarily well documented. Indeed, the county isprivileged to have many excellent accounts of itshistory and its unique agricultural beginnings. Inparticular, Heather Fernbach’s recent publicationForsyth County’s Agricultural Heritage (2012) is anextremely valuable document which details manyaspects of the county’s agricultural economy andculture and its symbiotic relationship with local urbancommercial centers. The story of Forsyth County’s

“Main Street in Salem,” 1866, by Henry A. Lineback, Salem, North Carolina. Looking north, a team of horses and a wagon can be seen in themiddle of the street. Salem Hotel is seen in the foreground. Henry Lineback likely photographed this view of Main Street from the roof of hisuncle Traugott’s house. The bricks and building material in the street are believed to be for the construction of Elias Vogler’s store, which datesthis image to 1866. The Salem Hotel can be seen in the foreground with a sign inscribed, “SALEM HOTEL/by/N. CHAFFIN. Glass plate negative, HOA: 3-3/16”, WOA: 4-3/16”. Collection of Old Salem Museums & Gardens, Acc. 3434.40, Gift of Isabel Wenhold Veazie.

agriculture in the 19th century is fraught with manyups and downs as agriculture responded to the ebb andflow of the changing economic times and populationgrowth. The early part of the 20th century saw anaccelerated interest in the emerging field of agriculturalscience and technologies to improve crop productionand enhance food safety. Indeed, Forsyth County hadseveral showcase examples of model farms. While thecounty’s natural resources and physical characteristicswill be discussed later, an understanding andappreciation of decisions made by Forsyth County’searliest colonial settlers cannot be underestimated interms of the pivotal role they played in the county’spast and how they may continue to contribute to thecounty’s agricultural future.

PrehistoryAgriculture has been an integral partof the county’s growth and develop -ment for more than 250 years. The relationship between agricultureand the county’s human habitationreally began more than 10,000 yearsago with prehistoric native Americansettlements. Archaeologists havedocumented many such settlementsalong the banks of the Yadkin River,which forms the western boundary ofForsyth County.

The river provided a sustainable sourceof freshwater mussels and fish, and thebottomlands that flanked the river andits tributaries were fertile and easilytilled using only primitive implements.Today, remnants of prehistoric stonefish weirs, pottery shards and otherartifacts can be observed along theriver’s edge. In the words of Dr. nedWoodall, former professor ofarchaeology at Wake Forest University,who conducted extensive research onlocal native American settlements,“one would never be out of earshot ofthe sounds of children playing and thesmell of fires.”

Early Moravian Settlements The Yadkin River was a formidable factor in theregion’s early development, but the familiar boundariesthat define present day Forsyth County simply did notexist when european frontiersmen first arrived in theearly to mid 1700s. At that time the colonial land thatwas to become Forsyth County was only a small partof Anson County, a vast wilderness region thatessentially included all of western north Carolina. by1750 the region was still only sparsely inhabited byhunters and trappers along with a few early subsistencefarmers and a declining number of native Americans.The area remained largely devoid of organizedcommunities, until a small group of German Moravian settlers from Pennsylvania arrived in 1752,searching for a suitable location to start a new non-

Wachovia Tract in relationship to the Muddy Creek Basin. Photocourtesy City-County Planning and Development Services Department.

An original Wachovia Tract Survey, circa 1766. Photo courtesy Moravian Archives, Winston-Salem, NC

secular community. The Moravians, led by bishop August G.Spangenburg explored the region for six months before selecting andpurchasing a tract of almost 100,000 acres from lord Granville ofengland in 1753.

The Wachovia Tract, as it came to be known was chosen for itsabundant water, land and timber resources. The Moraviansconsidered the tract at the “Three Forks of Muddy Creek” ideal forestablishing not just one community, but for implementing theirvision of a comprehensive, fully functioning urban-rural system ofmanufacturing, agriculture, and commerce. Quite intentionally, theWachovia Tract included virtually all of the Muddy Creek basinwhich forms the central area of present-day Forsyth County. Asdiscussed later in this plan, the Moravians’ decision to purchase theMuddy Creek basin fortuitously provided the “container” for ForsythCounty’s future growth and is a foundational element in the ForsythCounty Farmland Protection Plan. The previous map shows therelationship between the original Wachovia Tract and the funnel-likedrainage patterns of the Muddy Creek basin.

Immediately after acquiring the Wachovia Tract, the Moravians setabout building their first settlement, bethabara, that same year. Fields

were cleared and vegetable gardens, orchardsand field crops were planted. The Moravianskept meticulous records of everythingincluding their garden designs and plantlists. The earliest Moravians were skilledartisans and tradesmen. In addition tofabricating essential building materials fortheir own needs, products they made weresought after and sold to other settlers whooften came from miles away to acquirethem.

As bethabara was just getting established,bethania, a second settlement, was started in1759, just three miles away in a fertilefloodplain known as black Walnut bottom.This community was of a more traditionaleuropean style with formal, rectilinearbuilding sites bordered by agricultural fieldsand orchards. Ultimately, it was the foundingof Salem in 1766 that completed theMoravian’s vision to establish Wachovia’scentral community for commerce andadministration.

The town of Salem grew rapidly after itsfounding as did its needs for additional farmproducts that could not be met from itsimmediate surroundings. As part of theoriginal Wachovia concept, three additionalfarming communities, or CountryCongregations, were also planned. between1771 and 1780 the Country Congregationsof Friedburg, Friedland, and Hope wereestablished. While only remnants ofFriedburg and Friedland remain insoutheastern Forsyth County, the HopeCongregation located at the confluence ofthe three major branches of Muddy Creekin southwestern Forsyth County is stilllargely intact along with an allied settlementof German baptist brethren. The sodescribed Hope-Fraternity area was recentlyStudy listed on the national Register ofHistoric Places as part of the locally andnationally significant Wachovia settlements.

Diagram illustrates a contemporary version the Moravian urban-rural system ofmanufacturing, agriculture, and commerce. Note: Diagram adapted from ForsythFutures Community Food Systems Report (2013). The “urban-rural system” is describedin the Hope-Fraternity Historic District Study Listing nomination to the NationalRegister of Historic Places prepared by Michael O. and Martha Hartley (2009).

The 1800s

In the early 1800s, Salem’s governmental structurebecame more secular as it continued to prosper as theresult of its transition from domestic industries to massproduced goods. There were several economic ups anddowns in the early 1800s as a consequence of droughtsand regional financial instabilities. Forsyth County wasformed with its separation from Stokes County in1849. That same year Salem sold 51 adjacent acres toForsyth County to create the new town of Winston asthe county seat. This was done because the leaders ofSalem were leery of hosting rowdy activities associatedwith the county court functions and other less virtuousoutside influences.

by 1850 census takers calculated there were 936 farmsin Forsyth County comprising 51,873 acres ofimproved farmland. Salem was prosperous but tradeopportunities for manufactured and farm productswere substantially limited by poor transportationconnections to other regional markets. Completion ofa plank road to Fayetteville in 1852 improved thesituation as the new road opened up new marketsalong its route.

brightleaf tobacco became part of the economic andfarming landscape in the 1850s. by 1860 mostfarmers were growing tobacco along with a largevariety of other crops. between 1850 and 1860 theamount of improved farmland in the county increasednearly 40 percent to 72,509 acres. like most otherparts of the South, Forsyth County’s economylanguished in the aftermath of the Civil War. In 1880there were 1,871 farms consisting of 79,350 acres andby 1890 the census estimated that Forsyth County had2,088 farms and 79,954 improved acres in cultivation.Tobacco continued to be the county’s primary cashcrop with 4,886 acres of tobacco cultivated in 1880and yielding 2,649,440 pounds or about 540 poundsper acre. For comparison, 1,833 acres of tobaccogrown in 2012 yielded nearly 4,000,000 pounds, orabout 2,200 pounds per acre. Rail service finallyarrived in Winston in 1873 and R.J. Reynolds openedhis first factory in 1875. In 1892 Reynolds built thecity’s largest structure, a six-story brick building withsteam power and electric lights. by the turn of the

20th century, plug tobacco manufacturers had largelyconsolidated their operations thus setting the stage forForsyth County’s rapid growth.

Main Street from Brookstown . Photo courtesy Moravian Archives,Winston-Salem, NC.

The 20th Century

Forsyth County grew and prospered rapidly during thefirst decades of the 1900s. Winston and Salem mergedin 1913 and became one of the South’s leadingindustrial centers. by 1920 the Twin City had apopulation of 48,375 and was north Carolina’s largestcommunity, a position it held until 1930. The turn ofthe century also brought about fundamentalimprovements in agricultural efficiencies throughtechnological innovations, mechanization andeducation. Demonstration farms were set up across thestate to help educate farmers to install bestmanagement practices such as contour plowing andcrop rotations to minimize soil loss and improvefertility. other agricultural technologies were alsobeing developed and employed in association with thestate’s land grant colleges and extension programs.

An excellent local example was the model farmestablished in 1913 by Richard J. and KatherineReynolds as an integral part of their 1,067 acreReynolda estate, located three miles northwest ofdowntown Winston-Salem. The Reynoldaexperimental farm employed the latest farmingmethods and technologies and was considered one ofthe best modern farm examples anywhere. The newrefrigeration and sanitation practices that were part of

Young farmer studyingagriculture at NC StateUniversity. He has anenthusiatic eye towards thefuture of farming.

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the farm’s dairy operation were considered state of theart. In addition to a herd of Jersey cows, the farmincluded other livestock such as hogs, sheep, horsesand poultry. This experimental farm which included350 cultivated acres of grains, vegetables and othercrops also pioneered various food processing andcanning techniques. All of the farm operations weredirected and supervised by well-educated, agriculturalprofessionals.

There are other 20th centurymodel farm examples inForsyth County. Several wereinstitutional farms born out ofeconomic necessity to feedtheir residents during theGreat Depression. They arenotable for their resourcefuland sustainable agriculturalpractices. one such example is the Methodist Children’sHome, an orphanage founded in 1908, which iscurrently located on 200 acres off Reynolda Road,literally at the northern edge of downtown Winston-Salem. Another model farm is the Memorial IndustrialSchool, a church-run orphanage which was founded in1929 specifically for African-American children. Thisschool was situated on 425 acres about eight milesnorth of Winston-Salem, on land which currentlycomprises Horizons Park, a County park facility. evenas these farms were born out of economic hardship,they modeled the positive relationship between farmsand local consumers, as the largest percentage of thefoods grown were consumed by the residents.Although the Memorial Industrial School farm is nolonger in operation, the Methodist Children’s Homefarm continues to function as a unique model farm“oasis” in the middle of the city. In addition toproviding unique services for special-needs children,the farm director also grows, packages and sells foodsto local individuals and businesses.

Although tobacco continued to be Forsyth County’sdominant cash crop until the end of the 20th century,many of the traditional relationships between locallyproduced agricultural products and local consumers

began to decline after World War II. by 1956 ForsythCounty’s manufacturing economy was estimated to beone hundred times greater than its farm economy asmany farmers held factory jobs to supplement modestfarm incomes. even as farms were on the declineduring the latter part of the 20th century, someelements of the traditional urban-rural system persistedas a few farmers continued to sell to local non-franchise produce retailers and farmers markets.

F. A New Generation of Farmers

Farmers are finding opportunities in new technologies and markets.Much has been said about older farmers liquidatingtheir farm operations, especially after the tobaccobuyout, and younger folks leaving the family farm inpursuit of other, more lucrative and excitingemployment opportunities. but there is a newgeneration of farmers who see opportunity in nicheagricultural products, new and more efficienttechnologies, and vertically integrated productmanufacturing from agricultural and forestry cropsgrown on site. Many of these people simply love therural lifestyle but are not naïve about the challenges.

The Children’s Home Farm,next door to downtown.

on the contrary, many are eager to acquire thenecessary training and education either through self-directed study and/or formal agricultural degreeprograms. Many follow their passions with the hope ofone day turning a hobby into a profitable business.

These folks, like most farmers, are optimistic andresourceful by nature but are also excited about newtechnologies such as GPS-guided farm machinery,remote-sensing drone reconnaissance, and GISanalyses. Fertilizer, seeding, irrigation and weedcontrol operations can be better targeted for less waste,greater efficiency and improved environmentalstewardship. Such technologies not only reduce costs,increase yields and improve profit margins, butaccording to interviews with several young farmers,“put some of the fun back into farming.”

As one example, a Forsyth County tree farmer is ableto produce wood flooring and other wood productsfrom a hundred-acre stand of mature hardwoods. Theoperation involves selectively harvesting individualtrees in a non-disruptive, sustainable manner and

milling the rough sawn lumber into a finished producton site. one good size tree can produce about 600board feet of wood product. A board foot is defined as1”X 12”X 12.” by harvesting one mature tree per acreper year, a hundred-acre stand of mature trees canproduce about 60,000 board feet of flooring orlumber. Moreover, the forest remains self-sustainingjust by the natural annual generation of new biomass.The product is milled and dried on site using a small-scale solar kiln and precision machinery and marketeddirectly to consumers, many of whom seek outspecialty woods for restoration projects and customfloor installations.

The market for niche products such as custom woodflooring is limited by the competition from largewholesale distributers and chain store outlets.However, there may be ways to expand such businessesby sharing costs and reducing expenses throughcooperatives, etc. Just as with reinventing the urban/rural system for local foods, collaboration and targetedinvestments among producers,distributors, and consumers isessential for success.

IV. Natural ResourcesWhile terrain and climate conditions in ForsythCounty are similar to other Piedmont regions in northCarolina, important aspects of the county’s naturalresources and geography factor prominently in theForsyth County Farmland Protection Plan.

A. Climate and Terrain

Forsyth County has a relatively longgrowing season but the hilly terrainlimits large-scale crop production. Forsyth County’s climate is generally described aswarm and humid. It has a relatively long growingseason of about 200 frost-free days per year beginningabout the second week in April and lasting untilnovember 1. It’s noteworthy that the old 1914 ForsythCounty Soil Survey indicated a twenty day shorteraverage growing season, April 21 through october 17.Average annual rainfall of 45 inches is distributed fairlyevenly throughout the year. Much of the rainfallduring the growing season comes from summerthunderstorms, but amounts may vary widely fromplace to place and from season to season. Hailoccasionally accompanies a thunderstorm but generallyonly a small area is affected. There are no distinct wetor dry seasons but there may be periods of one to threeweeks without significant precipitation. While theclimate is generally well suited for a number of crops,hot and humid conditions can be problematic forsome crops like burley tobacco, fruit trees and thin-skin grape varieties.

Rolling terrain of the Piedmont.

The county’s rolling terrain is characterized as a broadupland surface dissected by moderately swift flowingstreams. Variations in elevation are generally not large,ranging between about 700 feet above sea level alongthe Yadkin River in the southwestern edge of thecounty to about 1,000 feet in northeastern parts of thecounty. While absolute variations in elevations arerelatively small, many of the county’s farms arefragmented by moderate to steeply sloping hillsideslocated between streams and upland surfaces.localized 100-foot terrain variations over just a fewacres are not uncommon. Such intervening slopes aresubject to storm water runoff and erosion problemswhich can be a challenge to agriculture.

Forest cover helps stabilize steep slopes.

B. Soils

Forsyth County’s soils are generally welldrained and suitable for a variety ofagricultural products as well as non-residential development.Soils and terrain features are interrelated and obviouslyimportant, as soil is the medium by which mostagricultural crops are grown. Soil texture, moisture,acidity, mineral content, fertility and terrain all affectcrop productivity and quality. Some soils are ideal forrow crops, while others are better suited for pastureand timber production. Soils also have engineeringproperties that influence the best locations for ponds,roads, and structures. Most of the county’s secondaryroads were historically located along ridgelines, as theytended to be flatter, well drained and less costly to

build and maintain. Good farmland soils are limited intheir amount and distribution. Unfortunately, soilsbest suited for agriculture also tend to be suited fornon-farm construction and development.

Soil formation is inherently complex as it is theproduct of underlying parent rock material, climate,plant and animal life, topographic relief and time. Therocks underlying Forsyth County soils are principallygneiss and schist as well as some large intrusions ofgranite in the south and southeastern corner of thecounty. over time, chemical and physical weatheringprocesses have broken the parent material into a soilmedium which is further transformed by the presenceof organic surface matter that has decayed andintroduced nutrients into the soil’s upper layers.

Many counties in the state, especially to the east ofWinston-Salem are covered in softwood treesincluding pine. Forsyth County is predominantlycovered in hardwood trees. because upland soils suchas Cecil, Appling, and Hiwassee are well drained,organic matter is more easily absorbed into the soilstructure. by contrast, wetter, bottomland soils such asWedhadkee and Chewacla have a less defined soilstructure as upland soil materials migrate downhill

over time and are deposited in low lying areas. earlysettlers found the soils naturally fertile, but as virgintimber was cleared for cultivation, most organic soilquickly eroded. Today, all soils suitable for cultivationmust be improved either through rotational cropsand/or by organic or chemical fertilizers.

The General Soil Map highlights six primary soilassociations found in Forsyth County. note that thewell-drained Pacolet-Cecil association covers about 65percent of the county in contrast to the poorly drainedChewacla-Wehadkee-Congaree association that islocated along major streams and floodplains and coversabout 6 percent. All of these soil types are suitable foragriculture. Farmers typically consult their local Soiland Water Conservation office to evaluate a particularsoil’s composition and the kinds of soil amenities andbest management practices needed to minimize soilerosion and maximize crop yields and quality. It’snotable that in 1986 Forsyth County initiated a planto purchase farmland development rights as a means topreserve farmland that included as part of itsnumerical ranking system, two tiers of primeagricultural soils. except for the Appling (ApC) andWickham (WkC) soils, all other prime soil types occuron slopes less than six percent. Prime soil types andassociated soils map symbols are listed below:

Tier 1: Altavista (Alb),Appling (Apb), Cecil(Ccb), and Hiwassee(Hib)

Tier 2: Madison (Mab),Mecklenburg (Meb),Pacolet (Pab), Wedowee(Wdb), Wickham(Wkb), Vance (Vab),Appling (ApC),Wickham (WkC), andHiwassee (Hmb2)

General Soils Map

C. Water Supply

Forsyth County has a robust water supplythat has fueled its industries andpopulation growth.

Forsyth County is in an enviable position with itswater supply because county leaders have worked fordecades to meet and insure the growing water needs ofindustry. The county’s water supply system is operatedby the City-County Utilities Commission, which wasformed in 1976 through an inter-local agreement. Thesystem draws from two primary raw water sources:Salem lake, a 365-acre impoundment which hasserved the community continuously since itsconstruction in the early 1900s; and the Yadkin Riverwhich forms Forsyth County’s western boundary.

Aerial view of the Yadkin River bordered by fields and forests. Photo courtesy Yadkin River Keeper.

While both raw water sources are important, theYadkin River is arguably the county’s most valuablenatural resource, supplying about 80 percent of thecounty’s water needs, and is one of the county’s mostprominent scenic features. Drawing from forestedwatersheds along the eastern slopes of the blue RidgeMountains, the Yadkin River basin forms the state’slargest river system. Floodplains along the rivercontinue to be farmed today as the river provides theregion with an abundant and reliable source of highquality water.

As a testament to the County’s wise leadership, thereliability of the county’s water supply was enhancedgreatly in the late 1950s when the U.S. Army Corps ofengineers set about to build a flood control reservoirupstream on the Yadkin near the town of northWilkesboro. As leaders in Winston-Salem anticipatedfuture water needs, they had the foresight to piggybackon the flood control project and negotiated a deal withthe Corps to substantially increase the reservoir’scapacity. The City paid to raise the dam height by anadditional thirty feet and the Corps agreed to releasethe reservoir’s extra 33,000 acre feet of water at theCity’s request to augment the river’s flow in the eventof an extreme drought.

The Yadkin River, an abundant source of fresh water for Forsyth County. Photo courtesy Yadkin River Keeper.

This kind of long-rang thinking has served thecommunity well as the commission currently operatesthree modern water treatment plants with a totaltreatment capacity of 91 million gallons per day.because water distribution systems operate underpressure and are less subject to terrain limitations thansewer systems, the commission has been able to morethan double its water distribution network from 1,046miles in 1976 to 2,266 miles by 2014. As municipalwater became more widely available throughout thecounty, it also fueled much of the county’s suburbangrowth and small town development over the last severaldecades. While water service is not available everywherein the county, many rural and unincorporated areas haveaccess to municipal water service.

D. Wastewater Collectionand Treatment

Forsyth County’s wastewater collectionand treatment system is largely containedwithin the Muddy Creek Basin.

Water is essential for development, but municipalsewer service is even more important to achievingurban development densities. The City-County Utili-ties Commission also operates Forsyth County’s sewersystem, but unlike pressurized water supply systems,sewer service is highly dependent upon non-pressur-ized gravity flow to function in a reliable and cost-effi-cient manner. As previously described in the section onthe county’s history, the Muddy Creek basin whichcomprises the central portion of Forsyth County wasoriginally chosen in 1753 by early Moravian settlersfor its abundant water, timber and other natural re-sources. Fortuitously, the basin’s well-defined patternof converging streams, also functions as the ideal“blueprint” for the county’s gravity sewerage system.

Municipal wastewater collection and treatment systemsmust contend with an expensive network of lift sta-tions and force mains to overcome topographic irregu-larities. The three major branches of Muddy Creekbasin converge at one point like a giant funnel, in thesouthwestern corner of Forsyth County, before dis-charging directly into the Yadkin River. Thecounty’s main sewer collection lines, which are

located within the basin’s stream beds, also coalesce ata single point in the southwestern corner of the countywhere the Muddy Creek Wastewater Treatment Plantis located. There are some exceptions like the Archieelledge Wastewater Treatment Plant, which continuesto operate upstream on Salem Creek as well as some,localized lift stations. but, overall the main ridgeline ofthe Muddy Creek basin largely defines the limits ofForsyth County’s sewerage system and hence practi-cally functions as a municipal growth boundary for theforeseeable future.

The following maps illustrate the close correlation be-tween the original Wachovia Tract, drainage patternswithin the Muddy Creek basin and the county’s exist-ing 1,730 mile sewerage network. by contrast toMuddy Creek basin’s funnel shape, it noteworthy thatstreams in the northeastern corner of the county donot converge before leaving the county and draininginto the Dan River system. Similarly, streams in farwestern Forsyth County drain directly into the YadkinRiver. As it is generally cost-prohibitive to extend mu-nicipal sewer service into both sub-basins, localizedsewage treatment alternatives such as private packagetreatment plants and ground disposal methods are alsobecoming more difficult and expensive to build. limit-ing extension municipal sewer service is one of thesingle most effective ways to protect rural character.

Early decisions by the Moravians set up the pattern for our present day gravity powered sewage system. Photo courtesy City-County Planningand Development Services Department.

V. Land Use Planning

A. The County Comprehensive Plan

Forsyth County is fortunate to have a coor -dinated, countywide comprehensive plan.

Forsyth County is fortunate to have the coordinatedsupport of local governing boards, commissions andagencies because agricultural and forestland assistanceprograms work best when coordinated with alliedland use policies and regulations. With respect toland use planning, the City-County Planning board,established under special enabling legislation in 1947is the state’s longest standing joint planning operationbetween a city and county. The board is comprised of

nine citizens appointed jointly by the Winston-SalemCity Council and the Forsyth County board ofCommissioners.

The Planning board advises the City and County onvarious zoning matters and development ordinances. Italso facilitates comprehensive planning for the entirecounty, including its seven smaller municipalities,many of whom have their own zoning and planningauthority. The Planning board and staff also help coor-dinate adopted planning principles and objectives withother city and county boards, commissions, and de-partments such as the City-County Utilities Commis-sion. This coordinated, countywide approach toplanning is especially relevant to farmland protection.Many of the recommendations in this Farmland Pro-tection Plan can also be found in Legacy 2030, the

Comprehensive Plan for Win-ston-Salem, Forsyth Countyand its Towns which wasadopted countywide in2013. The following mapsshow the positive relation-ship between the county’sunique topography, its sew-erable area and its adoptedGrowth Management Plan.note also the accompanyingUrban-to-Rural Transect il-lustrating the land use con-tinuum between ForsythCounty’s urban core and itsrural, farmland areas.

Map courtesy City-County Planning and Development Services Department.

B. The Growth Management Plan

The Growth Management Plan celebratesthe full spectrum of living, working andrecreational opportunities and choices.

A cornerstone of the Farmland Protection Plan is theLegacy 2030 Growth Management Plan, whichcoordinates Forsyth County’s historical patterns ofdevelopment with its unique geography, changingdemographics and economic development trends. In sodoing, the Growth Management Plan celebrates andfacilitates the county’s full spectrum of living, workingand recreational choices and opportunities. The GrowthManagement Plan makes the case that much of thecounty’s future growth can be accommodated throughincreased mixed-use development densities in the urbancore of Winston-Salem, various activity centers, and thecounty’s small town downtown areas. Conversely theGrowth Management Plan favors conservation of thecounty’s rural areas by recommending against theextension of inefficient municipal services, especiallysewer service, outside the Muddy Creek basin. byencouraging urban areas to become more urban, andrural areas to become more rural, the plan posits that thetwo ends of the continuum are not only compatible, butalso symbiotic in a manner similar to the urban-ruralsystems of the past.

C. Area Plans and Rural Policy Plans

Area Plans and Rural Policy plans extendLegacy 2030 planning to the local level.

Legacy 2030 also facilitates a more detailed areaplanning process to engage local property owners andother stakeholders to plan for future land use,transportation, community facilities, etc. in the areaswhere they live and work. by focusing on localizedissues and opportunities, planning officials collaboratewith stakeholders to make area plan recommendationsthat are specific to the needs of a particular part of thecounty. Area plans in urban and suburban areastypically recommend growth in the downtowns andactivity centers. Alternatively, area plans that borderon rural fringes take into account the traditionalnature local land uses. For example, a group of farmowners located within a rural transitional area mightcollectively advocate limiting the extension of sewerservice to their properties as they continue to live onthe farm and invest in new farming opportunities andoptions. Rural Policy plans also consider the needs ofForsyth County’s Rural Growth Management Areasand make recommendations which support farmlandprotection and rural agricultural enterprises.

D.The Cost ofCommunity Services

Farms typically pay $1.50 (or more) intaxes for every $1.00 they receive incounty services.

Legacy 2030 emphasizes the importance of promotingnew development that proportionately generates moretax revenues than the taxpayers’ cost of providingcommunity services. Legacy 2030 advocates targetingnew public infrastructure and other communityinvestments to catalyze long-term tax revenue returnsfrom new private development. There are many localexamples, particularly in downtown Winston-Salem.Public-private partnerships have facilitated newdevelopment that contributes substantially more tocity and county tax coffers than their proportionatecosts to receive community services (CoCS).Similarly, there are examples from nearby countiesshowing how rural farmland, even with reduced taxliabilities contributes more in tax revenues than theirCoCS. For example, a CoCS study prepared forGuilford County (FY2007-2008) showed that countyfarms generated $1.67 in tax revenue for every $1.00spent on the community services they receive. In thisrespect protecting the county’s rural farms can be avital part of the county’s overall strategy to maximizethe efficient delivery of community services to all itscitizens while minimizing costs to the taxpayer.

E. Development Ordinances

City-County development ordinancessupport Legacy 2030 recommendationsto protect agricultural enterprises.

Although Legacy 2030 is advisory only, many of thepolicies and recommendations adopted by governingbodies as part of the plan provide the foundation forvarious zoning decisions and development ordinancerevisions. While state statutes expressly exempt bona fidefarms from local development ordinances andsubdivision regulations, there are several city and countyordinance provisions that support local food productionand rural open space and farmland protection.

Specifically, there are municipal ordinances toaccommodate neighborhood gardens and farm animalson a limited basis in urban areas. There are alsosubdivision regulations to conserve rural open spacethough Planned Residential Developments (PRDs) orcluster residential subdivisions. Solar farm andagricultural tourism ordinances in the countyjurisdiction work to improve economic opportunitiesin rural areas. notification provisions of VoluntaryAgricultural Districts (VAD) also help developers andprospective buyers of homes in new residentialsubdivisions know about nearby farms and thepotential impacts associated with farm activities.

County and municipal ordinances also have provisionsto incentivize protection of steep hillsides and retentionof wooded buffers along perennial streams. The City ofWinston-Salem has an urban forest infrastructureordinance that requires ten percent or more of existingtrees to be saved during the course of new development.There is also a requirement to plant new large-variety,canopy trees in new parking lots with adequate growingspace to accommodate full maturity. Such ordinanceswork in concert with state forestry, soil and waterconservation and farmland protection programs.

VI. Reinventing the RuralAgricultural Economy

Meeting the challenge with some new —and some not-so-new — opportunitiesand strategies. The challenges facing Forsyth County’s ruralagricultural economy are significant and complex, butnot dissimilar to agricultural challenges foundelsewhere within the Triad Region. As marketglobalization and other economic factorsfundamentally changed the region’s traditional textile,tobacco, and furniture industries, the rural economymust also reinvent itself to be productive andsustainable. Just as old, but structurally sound factoriesare being adaptively repurposed in the newinformation-based, service economy, so too must therural economy adapt to new challenges and pursuenew opportunities.

While not without debate, the adaptive reuse of manyold factories has been facilitated with the assistance ofvarious governmental infrastructure investments andfederal and state tax credits. There are variousgovernmental grants, subsidies and tax incentivesavailable to farmers to aid in farmland production andretention. There are also strategic measures embodiedwithin the county’s infrastructure and land use plansand policies to better protect and revitalize the county’srural farm economy. To be most effective, suchassistance must be carefully targeted and coordinatedwith other governmental programs, non-profitinitiatives and private business investments. Inaddition to highlighting opportunities, this section willidentify and describe various funding sources andstrategies to protect and reinvent Forsyth County’srural agricultural economy. one of the additionalbenefits of this Farmland Protection Plan is to helpForsyth County rank higher in its qualifications toreceive additional grant funding for local farmpreservation and economic development projects.

A. OPPORTUNITIES

by examining the previous sections on demographics,geography and historical context; natural resources;and land use planning; as well as the perspective fromlocal farmers themselves, the following is a summary ofopportunities:

1Forsyth County is relatively small,but its urban areas are largelycontained within the Muddy CreekDrainage Basin.

Forsyth County is one of twomajor population and jobcenters in the rapidly growingTriad Region. It is the mostdensely populated yet one ofthe region’s smaller countiesin geographic size. Most of

the county’s urban development is containedwithin the funnel-like, drainage pattern of theMuddy Creek basin that supports a cost-effec-tive gravity sewerage system essential for urbandevelopment densities. Drainage patterns out-side the basin, which comprise approximately25 percent of the county’s total land area arenot cost-effective to serve with municipalsewer service. There are practical reasons forurban development to remain containedwithin the county’s municipal services area forthe foreseeable future.

2Population demographics,economic trends and attitudestoward living, working, andrecreation are changing.

Following national demo-graphic and economic trends,Forsyth County’s employ-ment base is becoming morediversified and service ori-ented, as many new jobs de-

mand greater knowledge-based skills and edu-cation. Some individuals are attracted to newknowledge-based job opportunities and manyretirees are also attracted to the convenience ofliving, working and recreating in more relaxed,walkable, urban, mixed-use environments. lo-cations like downtown Winston-Salem andsome small towns are experiencing a kind ofurban renaissance, as old and obsolete build-ings are repurposed for a new, mixed-use de-velopment. Although the urban lifestyle is notfor everyone, the aftermath of the Great Reces-sion marked a significant decline in the re-quests and approval of new suburbanresidential subdivisions. It also saw a concur-rent and compensating surge in urban multi-family and mixed-used developments.

3Consumer attitudes and preferencesare changing in favor of locallysourced foods and otheragricultural products.

Following a national trend,many individuals are discov-ering the health and culinarybenefits of fresh locallysourced foods. based onUSDA estimates, ForsythCounty residents spend ap-

proximately $1.28 billion on food annually. Ifonly ten percent of food sales were locallysourced the potential exists to infuse an addi-tional $128 million into the local economy. byreconnecting local farmers with consumers,restaurants and food markets, new economicopportunities are emerging for farmers to capi-talize on local food dollars.

4Historical relationships betweenForsyth County’s farms andcommercial centers may point tonew agricultural models.

Forsyth County has a longand well-documented historyof the urban-rural system ofagriculture and commerce. Inaddition to the Moravian’scomprehensively planned sys-tem, there are also examples

of model farms like the Reynolda experimentalfarm, and self-sustaining, farm-centered insti-tutions like the Methodist Children’s Homeand the Memorial Industrial School. While noone is suggesting that global markets and con-venience packaging will be replaced by a cen-turies-old agricultural system, there may belessons from the past relevant to today’s con-sumer-driven, locally sourced agriculturaleconomy. With respect to smaller-scale nicheproducts, valued added food processing cen-ters, and agricultural tourism, new family farmopportunities could potentially emerge.

5Forsyth County farms are fortunateto have strong support fromgovernmental, institutional,business, and private non-profitorganizations.

The Forsyth County leader-ship team referenced in theFarmland Protection Partnerssection who sought fundingfor this Farmland ProtectionPlan and many other alliedgroups are actively working

within the community to support local farmenterprises. These groups include the ForsythCommunity Food Consortium, Forsyth Fu-tures, the Historic Resources Commission,and the City-County Planning and Develop-ment Services Department as well as other ed-

ucational and community health institutionsand individuals. old Salem and the Reynoldaestate experimental farm are particularly inter-ested in educating the public about the impor-tance of the urban/rural food systems of thepast as they celebrate the respective 250 and100-year anniversaries of their founding.

6Forsyth County farmers see newopportunity in technology, nichemarkets, and vertically integratedfarm product manufacturing.

Farmers as a group tend to bean optimistic lot. Temperedby the uncertainties ofweather conditions and mar-ket volatility, farmers arenonetheless resourceful, prac-tical and innovative in their

approach to farming enterprises. Young and educatedfarmers are naturally attracted to new technologiessuch as GPS-guided farm machinery, aerial drone re-connaissance, GIS analyses, and other advanced tech-nologies to maximize yields, reduce costs, and improveprofit potential. They are always on the lookout forniche market opportunities and vertically integratedmanufacturing processes that can create additionalvalue for farm products grown on site. This searchworks best through collaborative efforts lead by localproducers, distributors, and consumers, and with tar-geted assistance by local governmental agencies, non-profit institutions and business leaders.

B. Farmland Protection PartnersNorth Carolina has many sources offunding to assist farmers and farmlandprotection efforts but such measuresshould not be taken for granted.

In north Carolina there are many proven ways toprotect farmland. Most land stewardship efforts arecarried out by government agencies and nonprofitorganizations. Funding for these initiatives comes fromgrants, foundations, loans and budget appropriationsfrom the government. When public concern isfocused on the loss of farmland and tax revenues aregood, these types of programs flourish, but when theeconomy slows down, so does this type of funding.Program titles, funding, rules and objectives change forthese programs almost every year. While some detailswill be included in this section, many of the specificsare purposely left out to avoid confusion between theinformation presented here and future programguidelines. The following section of this documentdetails many of the stewardship and conservationentities that are in place for Forsyth County.

Local, State and Federal GovernmentForsyth County Agricultural Advisory Board(FCAAB): The FCAAb was established by ForsythCounty ordinance and provided staff assistance by theForsyth County Cooperative extension Department.This board of local citizens is appointed by the countycommissioners and assigned four responsibilities:

• evaluate the status of agriculture and forestry inthe county

• Approve VAD applications

• Advise the commissioners on the needs ofagriculture

• Conduct a public hearing if any land enrolledin the program is subject to condemnation.

This FCAAb is responsible for issuing an annualreport on the VAD program to the countycommissioners and the nC Commissioner ofAgriculture. The primary role of this board is to serve

as the gatekeepers of agricultural sustainability for thelong term.

Forsyth County Cooperative Extension Service(CES): The CeS is a partnership between the USDAtwo state land grant institutions, north Carolina StateUniversity and north Carolina A&T State Universityand Forsyth County. Technical assistance andeducational programming are provided to farmers andlandowners on a wide range of agricultural andhomeowner issues. CeS educational materials are alsomade available online. CeS employs specialists inproduction agriculture, horticulture, vegetables, localfoods and field crops. Staff works with local producersto help develop markets, provide assistance withvarieties and new production techniques for high valueand specialty crops. The CeS organizes pesticidecertification training and conducts workshops on grantprograms for new and innovative agriculture.

4-H Club (4-H): 4-H is a fun and educationalprogram for children 5-18. The 4-H program issponsored by the north Carolina Cooperativeextension and is dedicated to helping boys and girlsdevelop life skills needed to be contributing membersof their communities. life skills include responsibility,leadership, self-esteem, critical thinking,communication skills and good citizenship. Childrenof all racial, cultural, economic and social backgroundsare welcome to participate in 4-H educationalprograms. 4-H is open to farm kids and city kids. onedoes not have to live on a farm to enjoy 4-Hopportunities.

Forsyth Soil and Water Conservation District(FSWCD): The FSWCD offers technical assistanceand cost share programs to all landowners and landusers. There is opportunity to apply for funds througha variety of state and federal cost share programs. Foreach of these programs, landowners must submit anapplication as part of a competitive process. Traditionalprograms are in place to fund water quality projectsusing best management practices. other programs arein place for new and limited resource farmers withhigher rates of cost share. Cost share programs are inplace for innovative practices such as planting forpollinators, organics, water quantity and biofuels.

NC Department of Environment Quality (DEQ):DeQ is the new moniker for the previous Departmentof environment & natural Resources (DenR). DeQhas been reorganized, but its primary missioncontinues to be environmental stewardship. DeQprovides technical assistance and regulatoryenforcement to businesses, farmers, local government,and citizens.

NC Department of Agriculture & ConsumerServices (NCDA&CS): The nCDA&CS includes thenC Division of Soil and Water Conservation and nCForest Service with staff in each of the state’s 100counties. Programs administered through nCDA&CSare in place to protect farmland and assist landownerswith sustainable farming, agritourism, marketing, soils,fertilization, crops and limiting liability. The followingis a listing of program areas:

• Agriculture Cost Share Programs fund farmlandwater quantity and quality initiatives

• Agricultural Development and FarmlandPreservation Trust Fund provide funding foragricultural infrastructure, promote planningfor agriculture at the county level and purchasetemporary and permanent easements onforested and farmland

• Agritourism networking Association

• Agronomic Services (crop management, soiltesting, nutrient advisement and animal wasteanalysis)

• Forestry Cost Share Programs

• Marketing Assistance, including listings instatewide agricultural directories such as the“Got to be nC” and nC Farm Fresh programs

• Regulatory Authority for pesticides, livestockand crop disease management, food recalls,weights and scales

• State Farm Markets and State Fairs

• Technical Assistance as it relates to farming andforestry

• Voluntary Agriculture District and CenturyFarm program oversight

North Carolina Forest Service (FS): The FSfunctions under the direction of the nC Departmentof Agriculture & Consumer Services. Programs of thenC Forest Service are intended to support forestryprograms for the thousands of private owners of

forestland in north Carolina. Programs includereforestation services, forest fire prevention andsuppression, and insect and disease control. Theagency is also involved in the genetic improvement offorest trees, seedling production at state nurseries, longrange forest planning, urban forestry, and othereducational and training activities. The nC ForestService staff provides technical assistance tolandowners and makes cost-share funding available.The local Cooperative extension Agency assists inpreparing forestry management plans, carries out siteplanning and prep, advises on wildlife habitatimprovement, reviews water quality bMP’s and workson disease, pest and fire control.

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission(WRC): The WRC administers and provides no-costtraining and assistance in the use of the Green GrowthToolbox (GGT). The GGT is a non-regulatoryapproach to land use that provides local governmentwith tools, land use planning methods and case studiesto create a balance between land use development andnatural resource management.

NC State University (NCSU) and NC A&T StateUniversity (A&T): nCSU and A&T are land grantinstitutions which have strong agricultural, academic,research and extension programs. The nC Statecampus is located in Raleigh and the nC A&T Statecampus is located in Greensboro. A&T focuses on theneeds of small, new and limited resource farms.Annual field days and ongoing field trials areconducted to support this sector of farming. Programsthat may be of interest to Forsyth County farmersinclude, a new initiative titled “Small FarmAgritourism as a Tool for Community Development,”along with two long established programs, Small FarmCollaborative and Small Ruminant Research Unit.

Tobacco Trust Fund (TTF): The TTF provides grantfunding to 501(c)(3) nonprofits and governmentalentities across the state to facilitate transition fromtobacco to other types of agriculture. TTF publishesand posts online an annual report of all projectsapproved for funding. Agencies that are listed in thisreport are good resources for advisement with the TTFgrant application process.

Golden Leaf Foundation (GLF): The GlF awardsgrants to 501(c)(3) nonprofits and governmentalentities across north Carolina. Their grants focus onthree priorities, agriculture in tobacco-dependent,economically distressed, and/or rural communities.County agencies listed in this report can assist withany grant application to the GlF. A list of projectsfunded and current application guidelines can befound on their web page.

Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS):The nRCS maintains a network of offices across thestate, so every county either houses a USDA ServiceCenter, or is covered by an office in an adjacentcounty. Staff provides landowners with conservationplanning, technical assistance and accepts cost-shareprogram applications.

Farm Service Agency (FSA): The FSA maintains anetwork of offices across the state, so that every countyeither houses a USDA Service Center, or is covered byan office in an adjacent county. To be eligible forprogram participation, a landowner must meet twocriteria. Those criteria include owning land whichmeets the government’s definition of a farm and beingassigned a farm identification number. FSAadministers farm loans, disaster relief and cost-shareprograms to farmers.

Non-Governmental OrganizationsPiedmont Land Conservancy (PLC): The PlC is anon-profit, grassroots land trust that serves ForsythCounty and the northwest Piedmont. Its mission is to:“Permanently protect important lands to conserve ourregion’s rivers and streams, natural scenic areas, wildlifehabitat, and farm land that make the Piedmont a healthyand vibrant place to live, work, and visit for present andfuture generations.” The Conservancy’s work isaccomplished by operating in partnership withlandowners, agencies and others to protect rurallandscapes and riparian corridors. PTl uses publiceducation, the purchase and donation of conservationeasements, along with fee simple purchase landpurchase, to achieve their conservation mission.

Forsyth County Farm Bureau (FB): The Fbmaintains at least one office in every county and is the

largest farm advocacy organization in north Carolina.Fb represents policy interests of farms and ruralfamilies as a local chapter of the nC Farm bureau.one arm of Fb sells insurance and another arm worksat the local, state and national level to promotegovernment policy that is agriculture friendly. Farmbureau board members discuss key agricultural issuesat monthly meetings and fund educational outreachactivities with a focus on supporting nonprofitorganizations and youth in agriculture. one of thegreatest benefits of being a Fb member is thefellowship and helping to build community supportfor agriculture.

Forsyth Community Food Consortium (FCFC):The FCFC is a community-driven food systemdevelopment organization that was established as thecentral implementation recommendation by theForsyth County regional food system assessment(Forsyth County’s Community Food System: AFoundation to Grow (2013). The FCFC is focused onfood system development across the multi-county foodshed within the Piedmont Triad Region. Premised onjustice, community ownership, broad but coordinatedwork and innovation, the FCFC is a focused effort tobring those elements together for a more effectiveregional food movement. The FCFC has been theleading partner and advocate for urban foodsordinances and local initiatives to create value addedagricultural storage and processing centers. It alsoserves as a clearinghouse of other local foods initiativesas it works to reestablish the connections between localfoods producers and consumers.

Forsyth Futures (FF): Forsyth Futures is a non-profitcollaborative of residents, organizations andinstitutions working together to address criticalcommunity issues. established in 2006, theorganization’s mission is to put community knowledgeto work by being an objective catalyst, connectingpeople, and serving as a convener. Forsyth Futures hastaken a particular interest in local foods including thegrowth of farmers markets, community gardens,buying co-ops and local food advocacy groups. ForsythFutures recently completed an assessment of the localfood needs and opportunities entitled Forsyth County’sCommunity Food System: A Foundation to Grow (2013).

C. Farmland Protection ToolboxA simple definition of farm and forestland protectionis, “being allowed to continue the practice of farmingand forestry in a profitable manner”. For mostlocations protecting land is complex. There are manylocal, state and national programs in place to helpagriculture remain sustainable. Program componentscan include educating the public, changingregulations, marketing assistance, land protectiontools, tax considerations, funding and newpartnerships. It is always recommended for anylandowner wanting to minimize tax liability to seekthe counsel of a qualified tax attorney or accountant.

Zoning and AnnexationZoning not only prescribes land uses, it also establishesstandards for land use, development and preservation.All of Forsyth County and it municipalities areregulated under one or another specific zoningclassification. Annexation is another powerful land usetool that adds urban services as it increases the taxobligation of annexed properties, and can limit newuses of previously rural land. In recent years, the nCGeneral Assembly has substantially restricted the use ofannexation by municipalities. As a result, annexationcan no longer be used to take in a “bona Fide Farm”,or one that falls within “Safe Harbor” qualifiers. Itshould be noted that while bona fide farms are exemptfrom local land use zoning and ordinances, anyproperty can be developed and subdivided accordingits underlying zoning classification.

Bona Fide Farm and Safe Harbor QualifiersIn north Carolina a “bona Fide Farm” is exempt fromfuture actions of municipal zoning, annexation andinclusion in extra Territorial Jurisdictions.

“bona Fide Farm” in north Carolina is defined as:

• A traditional farm as defined by GS 153A-340

• An agricultural practice for pleasure, such asraising horses

• Property in an eVAD that is subject to anagricultural conservation easement

• Production of items recognized under the“Goodness Grows in north Carolina” program(beer, wine, soft drinks, soaps, lotions)

• Tree production and timbering, aquacultureand raising livestock, including bees

• Packing, treating, processing, sorting andstorage that adds value to crops, livestock andother agricultural items produced on the farm

• Agritourism

Identified in 2015 legislation, S.l. 2011-363 (H 168)is a list of “Safe Harbor” qualifiers, which is differentthan qualifying as a “bona Fide Farm.” The followingfive qualifiers are used to verify if land is functioning asa farm:

• A farm sales tax exemption certificate

• A property tax listing as PUV

• A farm operator’s federal income tax form

• A forestry management plan

• A Farm Identification number issued by the USDA Farm Service Agency

Strategic Placement of Infrastructure and RoadsUtilities, water, sewer, roads and other infrastructureare effective tools for encouraging commercialdevelopment. Rural areas with the amenities and theright kind of zoning encourage development, andincrease land prices which is a hinderance to mostfarming activities. Counties and municipalities usethese tools to both encourage and discourage residentaland commercial development. Legacy 2030, thecomprehensive plan for Forsyth County and itsmunicipalities is the cornerstone for managing thecounty’s future growth by incentivizing growth andurban development in areas best suited for municipalservices, while discouraging the extension of urbaninfrastructure and growth in remaining areasdesignated as rural.

Municipal and County Ordinances and RegulationsAs discussed in the previous section on land-UsePlanning, Forsyth County and its municipalities have a

coordinated approach to regulations and policieswhich are intended to implement the goals andobjectives of Legacy 2030, Forsyth County’scomprehensive plan. With respect to farmlandprotection, various development ordinances andregulations, as well as public infrastructure investmentsare used to incentivize development in areas best suitedfor more intense urban development, whiledisincentivizing urban densities and incompatible landuses in areas identified as rural.

While some municipalities in nC do not allowownership of farm animals or agricultural activitieswithin municipal limits, Winston-Salem recentlyapproved ordinances to accommodate chickens andcertain farm animals on a limited basis. The City alsocreated a new Urban Agriculture ordinance that allowscommunity gardens and urban agricultural productionon a limited basis. Forsyth County has hired aCommunity Garden Coordinator and there arecurrently 160 community gardens planted in WinstonSalem and across the county.

Durham and Raleigh have rules in place that alloweach city resident who owns a home to own chickens.each spring there is a tour of chicken coops andchicken owners are allowed to market eggs and birds.The event in Raleigh is the “Tour D’ Coop” and theevent is Durham is the “bull City Coop Tour.” This isan effective way of connecting urbanites withagriculture and locally grown food. This approachenhances farmer markets, promotes healthy living,improves the health of city residents and createsmarkets for farmers who live both in the county andadjacent areas.

Voluntary Agricultural District Program (VAD)The Forsyth County Voluntary Agricultural District isone of 84 such programs in the state, and wasestablished through an ordinance adopted by theForsyth County Commissioners (2008) in accordancewith nC General Statute 106: 735-744. northCarolina law allows any county and city to adopt aVAD ordinance.

The Forsyth County VAD is administered by theForsyth County Cooperative extension Service (CeS)through the local Agriculture Advisory board (AAb).The county commissioners appoint members of thisboard. It is the board’s responsibility to report onchallenges to agriculture and to give recommendationsfor encouraging future sustainability of agriculture inthe county. In addition, if any VAD enrolled propertyis targeted for condemnation the AAb must conduct apublic hearing. Currently there are 79 participantswith a total of 5,077 acres of farm and forestlandenrolled in the Forsyth County VAD.

The landowner must submit an application to beconsidered for enrollment in the VAD. onceapproved, owners can purchase VAD signs to place ontheir property. Additional homes and farm buildingscan be built on enrolled land at any time, butlandowners agree not to develop their landcommercially for 10 years. Participants may withdrawfrom the program at any time without penalty.

benefits of the Forsyth County VAD are:

• Availability of signage to alert the public of anenrolled farm

• Public education initiatives on the value ofVAD enrolled land

• VAD farm locations map layer on the county GIS

• Added protection from nuisance suits via acomputerized record notification system thatalerts land buyers of all VAD enrolled farmswithin one mile of any tract of land in thecounty

• Public hearing requirement for any VADenrolled land that is proposed forcondemnation

• Farmland board that advises county leadershipon threats to the agricultural sector andopportunities for future sustainability

• Additional VAD benefits can be added at anytime

VAD maps are available to the public in variouscounty offices including the City-County Planningand Development Services Department, Property Taxand Cooperative extension Service. Greatereffectiveness of the VAD can be achieved by getting

more land enrolled and by exploring options for thecounty to enhance program benefits. In addition,various municipalities in Forsyth County can adopttheir own ordinance to support the VAD within theirmunicipal limits.

Enhanced Voluntary AgriculturalDistrict Program (EVAD)The north Carolina General Assembly adopted Housebill 607 in 2005 to authorize the enhanced VoluntaryAgricultural District (eVAD) option that counties andcities can add to their local farmland preservationtoolbox. The eVAD offers landowners additionalbenefits in exchange for an irrevocable 10-yearprogram participation agreement. Having an eVADordinance in place will have no impact on landownerswho choose to participate in the VAD. Forsyth Countyshould evaluate adopting an eVAD ordinance.

Following is a list of eVAD program components thatare permitted by state statute:

• both city and county governments can adopt aneVAD ordinance.

• enrolled farms can receive up to 25 percent ofrevenue from the sale of non-farm products andstill retain their bona fide farming classification.

• enrolled farms can be granted a lower nCAgricultural Conservation Cost-Share Programmatch requirement.

• Counties and cities may hold all utilityassessments in abeyance for enrolled farms thatchoose not to connect.

• eVAD is an effective way to cut down oninquiries from land speculators anddevelopment interests.

• Additional eVAD benefits can be added at thelocal level.

Properties in Agricultural Programs.

Map courtesy of City-County Planning and Development Services Department

Conservation EasementsConservation easements are a tool that has been usedfor land stewardship in the US for more than acentury. In past years, it was common to hear thisstatement “landowners are not interested inprotecting land, they just want to be left alone.”Thinking among landowners has begun to change.often during the interview process when pulling thisplan together, statements were repeated such as: “Iknow some farmers who have been paid to put landinto easements. We would like to take advantage ofthis program in Forsyth County.”

A conservation easement is a voluntary recorded legalagreement between a landowner and a land trust orgovernmental agency. Depending upon how aneasement is written, it can be either a term (temporary)or permanent restriction on the land. An easementlimits development of land outside of specifiedpurposes. The landowner can retain ownership, andcontinue to practice farming and forestry according tothe easement. A temporary easement is not typicallynoted on the deed, but a permanent easement shouldbe attached to the land deed. Public access is notrequired and the land can be passed along to heirs orsold. An easement requires future owners to abide bythe terms as spelled out in the deed. easementproperties are supposed to be inspected to insure theland continues to be used for agriculture.

Any landowner who chooses to place a conservationeasement on their property is the easement grantor.The grantor must find a stewardship organization,such as a local governmental entity or the Piedmontland Conservancy to agree to monitor the propertyfor the life of the easement. The stewardshiporganization is known as the easement holder.

Any permanent conservation easement is eligible forfavorable treatment against future income taxobligations. one option is the federal charitableincome tax deduction. The State of north Carolinano longer offers a tax credit for attaching an easementto a land parcel.

Term (non-permanent) easements can be donated andare sometimes purchased, but they are not eligible fortax benefits under current federal and state guidelines.In all situations, landowners should consult a qualifiedattorney or accountant for legal advice on taxes, estateplanning and future restrictions on the land.

Purchase of AgriculturalConservation EasementsAs detailed in the previous section, landownerssometimes donate easements in exchange for favorabletax considerations, at other times they are paid forthem. A bargain sale occurs when the landowner ispaid for a partial valuing of the easement, and theremaining value can be used for favorable taxtreatment for any permanent easement. These areknown as a Purchase of Agricultural Conservationeasement (PACe) or the Purchase of DevelopmentRights (PDR). Funding normally comes from thelocal, state and federal government. Currently thenatural Resource Conservation Service and nCDepartment of Agriculture and Consumer Services arethe primary funding sources. Currently ForsythCounty has 48 participants in the PACe programtotaling 1,237 acres of protected land. Despite thecompetitive application process for funding, thePiedmont land Conservancy and partnering agencieshave protected many acres of farmland.

Property TaxPresent-Use Value taxation (PUV) is created by statestatute with the requirement that it be offered by everycounty in north Carolina. PUV allows for landenrolled in agriculture and forestry to be taxed atactual use value, rather than at the higher rates forcommercial and residential properties. Minimumacreage requirements to participate in this program arefive acres for horticultural land, 10 acres foragricultural land and 20 acres for forestland. Farmlandmust meet certain ownership, annual incomegeneration and land management requirements. Thereis and also an option for enrolling some wildlife lands.landowners can only make applications for PUVenrollment during the month of January each year.

The tax system in north Carolina is established bystatute of the General Assembly (GA). The GA is inthe process of revamping state tax regulation. It isimportant to follow the latest rules that are in place forproperty, sales and income tax.

A PUV land parcel that loses eligibility is subject to arollback penalty. Payback entails a penalty thatincludes the year of disqualification and the threepreceding years plus interest. new land purchaserswho make application for continuation status within60 days of purchase can avoid this penalty.

As stated earlier, the State legislature established PUVand each year it becomes increasingly complex toadminister. County tax department employees areannually trained on this and many other programs. Asa general rule, the tax staff goes the extra mile to workwith landowners in an equitable manner. There canalways be a new circumstance that impacts how aparcel will be treated. In some counties, conservationeasements were not going to be included in PUV.However, after meeting with agricultural agencies andconsulting with nC Department of Revenuepersonnel, the rules were clarified and agriculturallands with easements were included in PUV. When alandowner has questions about how their land is beingclassified as eligible or ineligible for PUV, they shouldcontact one of the agriculture agencies and ask forassistance. There is an appeals process with a countyboard and the nC Department of Revenue, but it isalways best to work with the local agencies first. Alandowner workshop with tax office personnelspeaking on PUV should take place in every county,every year, for farmers and foresters.

Currently there are 1,833 parcels of land participatingin the Present Use Value (PUV) tax program inForsyth County totalling 42,147 acres. Twenty-oneparcels (158 acres) are in horticulture, 14,033 parcels(18,713 acres) in agriculture, and 1,659 parcels(23,276 acres) in forestry.

Local Historic Landmarks and Local Historic Tax DeferralThe local Historic landmark designation and thelocal Historic landmark Tax Deferral program protectand preserve rural historic resources through financialincentives. The property owner must first apply forlocal Historic landmark designation with the City-County historic resources staff. The HistoricPreservation office will review the application andsubmit comments. The Historic Resource Commission(HRC) will review the application and recommendapproval or disapproval to the appropriate governingbody. If the HRC recommends approval, they willrecommend a local ordinance designating the exteriorand/or interior of real property as a local historiclandmark. If approved by the governing body, propertyowners are then eligible for up to 50 percent propertytax deferral of assessed value of the designated propertyif they apply for it at the local tax office.

The tax deferral funding incentive is one positiveaspect for local landmarks. Another protection tool isthe Certificate of Appropriateness review process. Anydemolitions, relocations and/or alterations to theproperty have to be submitted for review by theHistoric Resource Commission

Income TaxFarm income is reported on an IRS Schedule F, whichincorporates options for decreasing one’s tax burden.The amount of tax owed can be decreased through thedonation of conservation easements, rehabilitation ofhistoric properties and taking a credit for paid farmmachinery property tax.

All donations for permanent conservation easementsincluding those for farm and forestland can qualify thelandowner for a federal income tax deduction.

The national Park Service offers a federal tax credit forthe cost of historic building restoration. new statehistoric preservation tax credits became effectiveJanuary 1, 2016. Information on this program can beobtained from the nC State Historic Preservationoffice web site. The nC General Assembly is in the

process of revamping state tax regulation It isimportant to follow the latest rules that are in place forproperty, sales and income tax.

ProfitabilityKeeping farms profitable is an approach to farmlandprotection that benefits everyone. An added bonus tothis approach is that instead of being a cost togovernment, tax revenues are generated. There are anumber of new income sources emerging asalternatives to traditional farm enterprises such asrecreation opportunities or renewable energy.

Solar farms for example, are being built on privateland, both in this area and across the state. Somefarmers will make money on power generation, andmay still be allowed to graze animals on the sameproperty. Such arrangements can be a solution toincreasing income potential, while keeping the landeligible for present use value taxation. There is muchto be learned about hybrid land uses and landownersmay need an intermediary/arbitrator to help them sortthrough their options, contract terms, and other issues.

Regional Coordination and PlanningRegional agricultural economy and marketopportunities never end exactly at the geographicboundaries of a county. Forsyth County sits on thegeographic cusp between the ten-county, TriadRegion’s urbanizing center and its surrounding ruralareas. Forsyth County is not only a pivotal player inefforts to address regional issues such as land use,infrastructure and economic development, but also inmatters of open space, regional food systems andfarmland protection. Forsyth County is an activeparticipant in the Piedmont Triad Council ofGovernments, and more specific to open space andfarmland protection, the Piedmont Together planninginitiative.

Growth and farmland protection are often viewed inconflict with one another. The non-profit ForsythCommunity Food Consortium, previously discussed inthe section on Conservation Partners, sees thesynergistic benefits of working across county lines to

match local foods producers with local foodconsumers. The market for locally producedagricultural products can be potentially expanded intoa regional local foods system

Landowner Education for Farmers & ForestersAfter reading through this section on the CountyFarmland Preservation Plan it is obvious that thetoolbox for farmland protection holds a lot of complextools. There is a lot of information to keep up with foremployees of government agencies who work in thisarena on a daily basis. navigating through thistoolbox can be overwhelming for the averagelandowner. offering workshops on topics throughoutthe year will benefit citizens. one of the best events tooffer on an annual basis is a landowner’s workshop. Itcovers topics such as PUV, easements, cost shareprograms, estate planning and farm transition.

Funding OptionsThere are multiple reasons why a landowner chooses toprotect special places. The decision should be wellresearched with agencies and organization that offerassistance. options for tax considerations and fundingsources should be evaluated to determine the bestchoice for the landowner. land is protected on aregular basis because landowners care. Protecting landis an affordable decision because of tax considerationsand funding sources that are primarily governmentbased, as an investment for the future. Some projectshave been pulled off simply as a tax deduction, or withfunding from one source. Program funding levels andrules change frequently. Temporary easements arebought but they do not qualify for special taxtreatment. A permanent conservation easement iseligible for purchase and tax benefits. Working witheasements and multiple funding sources means acomplex and drawn-out process that can take years tocomplete. It is always recommended that anylandowner wanting to minimize tax liability seek thecounsel of a qualified tax attorney or accountant.

Local FundingForsyth County has a history of funding conservationeasements, however, this option has not been used inrecent years. There are other counties in northCarolina that currently have actively funded programswhere local dollars are used as a match for state andfederal easement funding. orange County hasappropriated funds through bonds, and the AlamanceCounty Commissioners have invested PUV rollbackfunds. each dollar of county funding has beenmultiplied many times over by state and federalmatching funds.

The most successful county easement programs arebased on consistent funding. Whatever means offunding is used by county government for thepurchase of conservation easements, two importantcomponents are target areas and matching funds fromother sources.

State FundingThe Agricultural Development and FarmlandPreservation Trust Fund (ADFP) was establishedwithin the nC Department of Agriculture andConsumer Services in 2005. Funding is available forthree purposes: purchase of temporary and permanenteasements on farm and forestland, agricultural plans,and development projects. Having this report, theForsyth County Farmland Protection Plan in placegives farmers and the county a lower matchrequirement and a more favorable points ranking inseeking these grant funds.

Federal FundingThe USDA natural Resources Conservation Serviceprovides matching funds for the purchase ofconservation easements. Many farms in this state havebenefited from this program, which changes with eachupdate of the Federal Farm bill. Application for thisprogram is achieved through the nRCS field office inWinston-Salem.

Dedicated County Funding for Conservation EasementsBonds: Several counties in north Carolina, includingorange, Wake and Guilford, have approved bondfunding for conservation easements with a majorityvote of the citizens.

PUV Rollback: Alamance County commissionersannually dedicate PUV rollback funding for thepurchase of conservation easements. These funds arededicated for this purpose because they originated withthe loss of farm and forestland in the county. Therehave been discussions in other counties about adoptingthe Alamance County model for the purchase ofconservation easements.

County Funding: each year buncombe County inwestern north Carolina, budgets funds for thepurchase of discount-priced conservation easements.

Ranking SystemAny easement program that distributes funds shouldbe administered with a land parcel ranking system.Forsyth County has a well-defined ranking system for itsPACe aka. Purchase of Development Rights (PDR)program which was initially approved in 1984. Settingpriorities helps to ensure every applicant is evaluated in aconsistent manner. This approach can be used to satisfyeligibility requirements for state and federal matchingfunds. All north Carolina counties that have securedoutside easement funding have a land parcel rankingsystem in place.

VII. Conclusion andDetailed Action PlanRecommendationsForsyth County is fortunate that much work hasalready been done by local governmental agencies andnon-profit organizations to recognize the importanceof the county’s rural character and farm economy.existential challenges lie ahead as small family farmsare pressured by slim profit margins and the TriadRegion’s rapid growth. As this farmland protectionplan draws from a variety of data sources, surveys andanecdotal interviews, it also endeavors to link relevantobservations and recommendations from other alliedcommunity plans and reports. Indeed, many of thisplan’s recommendations and action items are alsoreferenced in the Legacy 2030 comprehensive plan;the Forsyth County Rural Historic ResourcesPreservation Report; and Forsyth Future’s report onForsyth County’s Community Food System: AFoundation to Grow. In this regard, farmlandprotection is but one aspect of a much broadercommunity conversation advocating healthy living,cultural diversity, environmental quality and economicsustainability.

Although the following action plan recommendationshave been grouped into five main categories, somerecommendations might easily fit into more than onegroup as many recommendations are supportive of oneanother. For example, the recommendation to enhancemarketing for local farm products and farm markets iscited under the category “Agricultural economicDevelopment,” but it could also be considered as arecommendation under category “education andPublic outreach.”

It should be noted that a prioritized implementationschedule along with associated agencies andorganizations responsible for implementation areshown in the Action Plan Recommendationssummarized at the end of the executive Summarysection of this report.

Action Plan Recommendations1. Promote Sustainable Growth

A. Review the Unified DevelopmentOrdinances (UDO) to assure flexibilitywith zoning/subdivision regulations andagricultural uses. Note: Bona fide farms areexempt from local ordinances, however localordinances can work to complement and supportfarmland protection objectives.1. Remain current with new agricultural

activities, technologies and trends. 2. Review Planned Residential

Development (PRD) ordinanceprovisions to accommodate farmoperations as part of open spacerequirements.

3. Review solar farm ordinance provisionsto insure compatibility with farm-relateduses such as animal grazing.

4. Support appropriate locations, useconditions and/or incentives foragricultural support sales and servicebusinesses, e.g. tractor parts/repairs, feedand seed stores, etc.

5. Review the Yadkin River (YR) andAgricultural (AG) zoning districts fornew and/or alternative provisions toincentivize and support agricultural uses.

B. Update Voluntary Agricultural District(VAD) to comply with state policy. ForsythCounty has a Voluntary Agricultural DistrictOrdinance and landowner participation hasbeen very good. The state legislature has changedstatute GS 106-738 which authorizes countiesto create VAD programs. The county ordinanceshould be amended to match the current statelegislation.

C. Create an Enhanced Voluntary AgriculturalDistrict (EVAD).The EVAD adds a higher level of voluntaryfarm and forestland protection. Forsyth Countyadopted the Voluntary Agricultural District(VAD) in 2008. The EVAD can also beadopted by county ordinance and offersadditional benefits as a stepped-up version of theVAD. The EVAD offers landowners extraprotection with a ten-year renewablecommitment to the landowner, including moreattractive cost share rates for installing bestmanagement practices. Adopting a ForsythCounty EVAD ordinance would simply givelandowners an additional choice for protectingtheir land. Model programs are located inGaston and Polk Counties.

D. Assist municipalities with the opportunityto provide VAD/EVAD programs.Although the VAD/EVAD program is primarilytargeted toward protecting farms in rural,unincorporated areas of the county, there arelocations within municipalities that may benefitfrom the program.1. Meet with local officials to discuss

advantages of VAD/eVAD programswithin municipalities.

2. Assist with implementation if requested.

E. Continue to work with County GIS totrack and analyze agricultural land uses.It is important for the real estate brokers,attorneys, governmental agencies and the generalpublic to easily access information on thelocations and status of farmland protectionmeasures. 1. Continue to map and make publically

available current VAD/eVAD locationsand one-mile impact/notification zones.

2. Create a map layer for Present Use Value(PUV) program properties.

3. Create a map layer for Purchase ofDevelopment Rights (PDR) programproperties.

F. Contract for a Forsyth County Cost ofCommunity Services Study (COCS). A dozen COCSs have been conducted in NorthCarolina counties. Each of these studies isunique to the entity where it was conducted, butall of them have reached the same generalconclusion that farmland is a net gain for thecounty tax office compared to other land useswhich may not be. This is valuable informationto share with county leadership. For a listing ofCOCSs, go to this web link,https://www.cals.ncsu.edu/wq/lpn/cost.html. Dr.Mitch Renkow of NC State University conductsthis type of a study at minimal costs to countygovernment. Model programs include Guilford,Alamance, Chatham and Davie Counties.1. Present CoCS findings to various

elected, and appointed boards andcommissions, non-profits and businessorganizations.

2. Consider using CoCS findings inplanning and zoning decisions especiallyrelated to farmland protection.

G. Update the Forsyth County FarmlandPreservation Program Guidelines (1991).Purchase of Development Rights (PDR)program, aka. Purchase of AgriculturalConservation Easements (PACE) should beupdated to be current with adopted plans,ordinances and funding sources.1. Consider revisions to the current ranking

system to improve prospects for potentialfederal, state and local funding sources.

2. Consider additional private and publiclocal sources of funding such as bonds.

3. Work with interested landowners ofprioritized parcels to identify state andfederal funds that can be leveraged withcounty funds.

4. Consider including a preservationeasement or protective covenant in theconservation easement that protectsscenic landscapes and historic landresources.

H. Explore the option of utilizing Present UseValue (PUV) rollback funds for thePurchase of Conservative Easements.Rollback funds are paid to the county bylandowners who remove land from farming andforestry so that it can be developed. As a modelprogram, the Alamance County Commissionerson an annual basis have committed rollbackfunds to a county fund used as a match for stateand federal easement matching funds. Each yearapplications are accepted and severallandowners have been paid to leave their farmin agriculture on a permanent basis. The fundsprovide those farmers with working capital topay down debt and expand profitability.

I. Assist the Historic Resources Commissionand staff to identify the extent of ruralhistoric resources in Forsyth County,including historic farms, landscapes as wellas prehistoric and historic archaeologicalsites. Historic resources are part of ForsythCounty’s character and include an assortment ofnatural and manmade elements that make ourcommunity authentic and unique. It is a reasonnew businesses want to establish their facilitiesin Forsyth County. It attracts visitors andtourists and makes citizens proud to call theircommunity home. The preservation of ruralhistoric resources includes not only historichomes, barns and outbuildings but the characterof the historic rural landscape itself.1. Support funding to update and complete

the architectural survey of ForsythCounty’s unincorporated rural areas.

2. Assist historic resources staff andconsultant to document and publish abook on the architectural development ofthe county.

3. Reevaluate the need for a ruralpreservation plan after the architecturalsurvey is completed.

J. Continue to support and assist propertyowners to protect historic resources whenrequested.1. Assist in the nomination of eligible rural

historic properties to the nationalRegister of Historic Places.

2. Support the establishment of ruralhistoric districts in areas where significantrural farmlands and resources exist andproperty owners express interest.

3. Assist property owners who seek locallandmark designation of eligible ruralhistoric properties as Forsyth Countylocal Historic landmarks.

K. Annually review the progress of the ForsythCounty Farmland Protection Plan andupdate the plan as needed.

L. Support and coordinate Legacy 2030recommendations and policies with localand state agencies. Legacy 2030, particularlythe Growth Management Plan, contains anumber of objectives, policies and action agendarecommendations to support farmlandprotection in Forsyth County. Implementationand coordination of plan recommendations withother local and state agencies is fundamental tothe Forsyth County Farmland Protection Plan.1. limit public infrastructure investments

such as water, sewer and highwayextensions which encourage urbandevelopment densities in the RuralGrowth Management Area (GMA 5).

2. Implement other Legacy 2030recommendations in support of openspace and farmland protection.

2. Agricultural EconomicDevelopment A. Support collaborative efforts such as theForsyth Community Food Consortium(FCFC) and its efforts to connect theproduction, processing, distribution,consumption, and waste managementaspects of our regional food systemthrough infrastructural improvements. TheFCFC was created as a collaborative effort tofacilitate, catalyze and expand the urban/ruralfood system in Forsyth County. The FCFC workslocally, but thinks regionally as Forsyth Countyis part of a regional food shed and is notrestricted by county lines. The FCFC is key toevaluating, coordinating, and implementingmany of the recommendations pertaining toagricultural infrastructure, distribution,marketing and incubator farms.

B. Conduct a feasibility study for a sharedcold storage and processing facility. Createa regional shared-use cold storage andagricultural processing facility (or networkof facilities) within our multi-county foodshed to provide space for small foodbusinesses to incubate. Such centers take rawagricultural products through stages of desiredmarket readiness. They provide shared-use,commercial kitchen space for entrepreneurs torent as they pursue food and agriculturalproduct processing businesses with less overheadthan producing their own private commercialkitchen.

C. Strengthen and expand food hubs andimprove consistency among farmers’markets. Create a food hub (or network offood hubs) within our multi-county foodshed to provide aggregation anddistribution of farm products, marketingand business assistance, and accountbrokering for farmers. Such efforts serve to:open up larger markets to smaller farmersthrough aggregation; solicit markets and clients

that may have previously been beyond thecapacity of individual farmers; offer smallbusiness and marketing assistance to developindividual farmers’ brands, outreach, andbookkeeping; and connect urban centers moreefficiently and accessibly to rural agriculturalproducts.

D. Explore small-scale and/or mobile poultryprocessing opportunities that might serve amulti-county area.

E. Enhance marketing for local farm productsand farmers’ markets, green industry andother venues that sell local foods andagricultural products.1. explore options for a local foods

directory, website, etc.2. expand branding opportunities for local

foods and farms.3. establish institutional purchasing

policies.4. Convene a farm market association.5. encourage availability of ebT/SnAP6. Identify food deserts and gaps in citizens’

access to local foods.

F. Review Agricultural Tourism provisions ofthe UDO and revise as appropriate. TheNC General Assembly has expanded the scope ofthe bona fide farm exemptions from localregulatory authority which may require periodicrevisions of current Agricultural Tourism provisions of the UDO. 1. Review provisions of the UDo

pertaining to Agricultural Tourism toconform to current state legislation.

2. Consider any additional non-residentialland uses to include in the AgriculturalTourism provisions of the UDo.

G. Increase Forsyth County VAD and NCCentury Farm Program participation.These programs help to unify farmers andforesters. In addition, these programs buildcommunity, increase pride in these professionsand demonstrate the impact of these industries

to public officials. Educate governmentalagencies and related organizations aboutprogram benefits, eligibility and enrollmentprocedures. Encourage these organizations aswell as civic groups, commodity associations, etc.to promote the programs to interested citizens.Model programs to educate other agencyemployees are located in Buncombe, Cabarrus,Franklin and Moore Counties.1. Conduct once a year meetings with all

agriculture and forestry agency personnelto talk about these programs to increaselandowner recruitment.

2. Provide educational presentations to civicgroups and commodity organizations.

H. Establish a Forsyth County Small FarmAssociation.There are a growing number of small farms,aka, hobby farms in and around ForsythCounty. Many of these farm owners are firsttime farmers, some are young and have limitedresources, and others are retired professionalswith financial resources. All of these individualshave questions and need assistance. Anassociation would potentially grow this marketand help small farms be both successful andsustainable.1. Further review of cooperative models

should be investigated.

I. Support the efforts of a “10 PercentCampaign” for local government,institutional and business employees, andcatered events. It is estimated that ForsythCounty residents spend approximately $1.28billion on food annually. Substantial additionalagricultural sales could be generated if 10percent of local food consumption came fromlocal food sources. 1. establish partnerships with local foods

suppliers to deliver local produce foremployees

2. encourage municipal and countygovernment and other institutions withinthe county to use 10 percent locallygrown or produced foods for event meals.

J. Review zoning codes, municipalregulations and policies to facilitate and /or remove barriers to urban food access.The City of Winston-Salem recently adoptednew ordinances to provisionally allow small-scale urban agricultural production and thekeeping of chickens and certain farm livestockwithin its municipal boundaries. 1. encourage city officials, institutions, and

citizens to evaluate the benefits of urbanagricultural activities currently underwayand consider potential improvementsincluding a land leasing program.

2. Assist other municipalities to developsimilar provisions for urban agriculture.

3. Farm Transition and the Next generationA. Establish a Farm Internship Program forAgricultural Education students. Although the number of farms and internshipopportunities for students to work on a farmshave decreased, there are a number of studentswho are interested in working on farms afterschool and during the summers. An organizedinternship program needs to be in place.Agricultural Education teachers in the countywill champion this program, but they cannot doit on their own. Farm associations in the countywill be able to find farmers who will allowstudents to do an internship. Forms will need tobe designed to formalize the process and to makecertain that participating farmers do not incurextra liability. The NC Future AgriculturalEducation Department will be able to offerguidance for establishing this program. ModelPrograms include Durham and JohnstonCounty Agricultural Education programs.

B. Establish a farmer and forester speakers’bureau to work with AgriculturalEducation classes and schools. Agriculturaleducation teachers in the county regularly invitespeakers into their classroom. It would help tohave a formal speaker’s bureau for farming andforestry. Forsyth County Agricultural Agencieswill work with forestry and different

agricultural associations to identify speakers forthe bureau. All speakers will be verified yearlyfor active participation.

C. Establish a “Farms for the Future”program for landowners to provideassistance with estate planning farmtransition, participation in PUV, easementsand other farm preservation programs.Landowners have many options for enhancingtheir land and, crops, and lowering costs. Thereare cost share programs, technical assistanceavailable through agencies, present use valuetaxation, conservation easements and multipleways to transition land to heirs. An annualworkshop will educate landowners andintroduce them to agency personnel. Modelprograms are offered by the Cabarrus, Mooreand Wake County Soil & Water ConservationDistricts.

1. Conduct an annual, single day landownerworkshop to promote farm andforestland sustainability and introducefarmers and non-farming land owners toagricultural agency personnel.

D. Conduct seminars for attorneys and realestate agents on land use and transactions.Most land transactions involve an attorney anda real estate agent. Some attorneys, real estateagents and land use planning professionals haveminimal knowledge of PUV, VAD, orconservation programs offered by agencies andnonprofits. Workshops will present informationabout programs that will help their clients, andinsure the success of both new landowners andthese programs.

E. Develop a “New Farmer Template” in theform of a brochure on buying farmland.Such a brochure should provide informationthat every new farmer needs to know aboutfarming in Forsyth County. New farmers thatwere interviewed talked about the manychallenges they have faced.

1. Make information available to connectnew farmers to agencies, educational

opportunities, and grant funding andcost-share programs.

2. Promote nC Farmlink which serves toconnect farmers, landowners and serviceproviders: ncfarmlink.org. NC FarmLinkhelps match beginning or experiencedfarmers with landowners/farmers wishing tolease, sell, or steward land. NC FarmLinkalso helps pair experienced farmersinterested in mentoring with new farmers.It also serves to connect farmers withinformation resources including financial,legal, marketing, real estate, technical,regulatory and other farm-related resources.

F. Expand the Urban Farm School for newopportunities in urban agriculture such ascommunity gardens and urban orchards.

1. Provide local food system trainingopportunities.

2. Develop job training programs for foodrelated businesses.

3. explore utilization of vacant urban lots.4. Create an inventory of suitable urban lots

for food production with access to water.

G. Expand NC Farm School opportunities fornew and transitioning farmers.

1. Rotate the school among Forsyth,Guilford, Stokes and Davidson Counties.

2. Work with an advisory committee toimplement an annual farm school andrelated trainings in Forsyth andsurrounding counties.

H. Provide production and marketing trainingfor traditional and alternativeopportunities.

1. Provide Good Agricultural Practices(GAP) training and assist withcertifications.

2. Introduce opportunities for local foods,agritourism, niche markets, etc.

3. Create opportunities to pair farmers withchefs.

I. Support 4-H Club programs and youthactivities. 4-H clubs are sponsored by the NCCooperative Extension and provideopportunities for area youth between the ages of5-18. Many urban youth are several generationsremoved from agriculture. The followingeducational programs will allow youth to gainan appreciation for agriculture and “where foodcomes from”, gain exposure to farming activitiesand to develop critical life skills.

1. evaluate staffing needs for agriculturaloutreach such as farm tours, local foods,importance of agriculture and othereducational programs.

2. Provide agricultural education at theDixie Classic Fair.

3. Coordinate annual 4th grade agriculturalheritage day program.

4. Coordinate annual 3rd grade Arboretumeducational program at Tanglewood Park.

5. Coordinate annual 2nd grade embryologyprogram.

4. Education and Public Outreach

Education and public outreach efforts broadlyinclude local farm product consumers, educators,public officials, realtors, lenders, attorneys, and thegeneral public. They include education aboutfarming techniques, farmland protection strategies,and the economic importance of farming to the localcommunity.

A. Support the educational efforts of theDixie Classic Fair which, brings agricultureand forestry to the city througheducational displays, contests, livestockshows and School Day that allows for freeadmission of youth to the exhibits.

B. Pursue selling farm products and settingup agricultural education booths at parks,festivals and sporting events. Manythousands of people visit parks, festivals, and localsporting events throughout the year, providingopportunities to both sell and promote localagricultural products. Model program: Farm

produce sales at NC Copperheads baseball gamesin Thomasville. A grant from the NCDepartment of Agriculture ADFP Trust Fund wasused to pay for product sales and education booths.

C. Conduct a marketing and educationcampaign targeting Forsyth Countyresidents. Many vendors talked about the factthat citizens who visit farmers’ markets do notunderstand the benefits of supporting theeconomy through buying local.

1. launch a consumer education campaignaddressing the health and economicbenefits of growing and/or purchasingfresh, local food.

2. establish and promote community gardens at restaurants, churches, schools and vacant lots and seek media coverage.

3. Consider a copyrighted Forsyth Countyagricultural logo brand.

4. Develop a brochure in hard copy, on theweb and smart phone app on ForsythCounty trails, agricultural products, bedand breakfast venues, agritourism, quilttrails, and farmers’ markets and festivals.

5. Use speakers from the farmer and foresterspeaker bureau and others to presentinformation about the benefits offarmland and agricultural activity in thecounty.

6. Partner with the nCDA on marketing efforts such as the Farm Fresh program.

D. Support local educational programsoutlining and supporting the value ofForsyth County’s historic rural character.

1. Assist with the development of a CountyHistoric Marker Program that marks onehistoric resource per year.

2. Develop a program to support andexplain the importance and value of ruralhistoric resources in Forsyth County.

3. encourage property owners to placepreservation easements and protectivecovenants on significant rural historicresources by connecting them withqualified preservation organizations.

E. Expand educational efforts (Farm City,etc.) to educate the public aboutagriculture, local food producers, and thetimber industry by utilizing regional farmtours and other activities.

F. Encourage diversity of membership andleadership for all agricultural committees,commissions, boards, etc.

G. Annually present the “State of ForsythCounty Agriculture” report to local electedofficials.

5. Forestry Opportunities

A. Establish annual Landowner Workshop. Agency personnel and consultants repeatedly stated that primary challenges of their industry are poor tree stand management and not gettingfull harvest value for standing trees.

1. Provide education and technicalassistance to land owners.

2. educate landowners on Present-UseValue tax benefits

B. Educate the general public on theeconomic value of forestry and the need forproper forest management. Foresters whowere interviewed talked about how theirindustry is often taken for granted by countyleadership and the general public. Forestry isnot fully valued for economic contributions,employment numbers and environmentalstewardship. There are also public complaintsabout clear cuts.

1. Use speakers from the farmer and foresterspeakers’ bureau to present informationabout forestry operations and theirbenefits to local civic clubs, churches, andother presentation outlets.

2. Consider a guest newspaper article orarticles written by nC Forest Servicepersonnel on forestry topics.

C. Promote forestry education in schools.Agency personnel will continue to work directlywith schools, as well as other agencies andorganizations to get forestry education into allschools that are based in Forsyth County.

Lumber stacked and ready to go at Treehugger Forestry.

AcknowledgementsA huge amount of investigation, preparation and dili-gent studies went into the development of this Farm-land Protection Plan for Forsyth County. The authorthanks the more than 200 farmers, forestland owners,public officials, local historians, businesses and citi-zens who have given their valuable time and inputthrough interviews and meetings towards the successof this document. In addition to the Farmland Pro-tection leadership Team, key organizations providinginformation include the Forsyth County Cooperativeextension, Forsyth County Soil and Water Conserva-tion District, City-County Planning and Develop-ment Services Department, Forsyth AgriculturalAdvisory board, Forsyth County Tax office, nCForest Service, Forsyth County Farm bureau, ForsythCommunity Foods Consortium, and old Salem, Inc.

The author specifically thanks Mark Tucker, ForsythCounty extension Director; Michael bowman,Forsyth Soil and Water Conservationist; Mary Jacbrennan, April bowman, and Tim Hambrick, exten-sion Agents; and Hannah Johnson, nC Forest Serv-ice for their timely input and assistance incoordinating meetings, research, development and re-view of the Forsyth County Farmland ProtectionPlan. Special thanks to Gerald “Jerry” Dorsett withthe Forsyth County Soil and Water ConservationDistrict for serving as the Staff Coordinator for theplan and for enthusiastically sharing his valuableknowledge and expertise in authoring similar farm-land protection plans in other nC counties.

The author also acknowledges the valuable insightsand perspectives obtained from the Guilford,Caswell, Person, and Polk County Farmland Protec-tion Plans.

This document was made possible by the followingcontributions:

NC Agricultural Development and Farmland Pro-tection Trust Fund:

• Principal funding was provided bya grant by the nC AgriculturalDevelopment and Farmland Pro-tection Trust Fund through thenC Department of Agricultureand Consumer Services.

• Additional funding was provided by the ForsythCounty Farm bureau

• In-kind support was provided by Forsyth CountyGovernment.

Forsyth County Board of Commissioners:

David R. Plyler, ChairDon Martin, Vice ChairWalter MarshallTed KaplanGloria D. WhisenhuntRichard V. linvilleeverette WitherspoonJ. Dudley Watts, Jr., County Manager

BioGlenn Simmons, RLA, AICPGlenn is a landscape Architect and Certified Plannerwho recently retired from his position as a PrincipalPlanner with the Winston-Salem-Forsyth CountyPlanning and Development Services Department after27 years of service. In addition to writing the ForsythCounty Farmland Protection Plan, Glenn has collabo-rated over the last several decades with various landtrusts on land conservation projects along the blueRidge Parkway and the new River. Glenn received hisb.A. Degree from Wofford College and Master oflandscape Architecture Degree from the nC StateUniversity, College of Design. Glenn is of the opinionthat land conservation efforts can and should workhand in hand with the economic use of the land.

Appendix A: Farmland ProtectionLeadership Team MembersThe following is a list of members participating onthe Farmland Protection Leadership Team:

edgar Miller, ChairRonnie AngelRon bennettToby bostApril bowmanMike bowmanMary Jac brennanD.J. byerlyClaude & Karen bruceJohnny & Robin blakelyWes CarpenterSteve & betty CarrollDede DebruhlTim DisherJerry DorsettClayton eatonKirk ericsonKaylen FrancisTim HambrickMarcus HillHannah Johnson

John KlocChad linvilleStacy & lawana ManningJoe MarionJohn McPhersonMindy MockPaul MullicanJames Myers Jim nottkeDale ParkerCheryl Riersonbrenda SmithMark SpicerVern SwitzerDebbie TalbertKen Talleybeth TuckerMark TuckerDudley WattsJake Weavil

End NotesThis Farmland Protection Plan was completed withassistance from numerous sources of backgroundinformation and statistical data. Primary sourcesinclude the following:Legacy 2030 Update: The Comprehensive Plan forWinston-Salem, Forsyth County and its Towns (2013)http://www.cityofws.org/departments/planning/legacy/legacy-2030

Forsyth Futures Forsyth County’s Community Food System:A Foundation to Grow (2013)https://www.forsythfutures.org/Sustainable-environment/Forsyth-County-Community-Food-System-2013/jx3b-jp97

Forsyth County Rural Historic Resource PreservationReport (2015) Prepared by April Johnson for the City-County Planning and Development Resources Department.

Forsyth County’s Agricultural Heritage (2012): Prepared forthe Forsyth County Historic Resources Commission andthe City-County Planning board. Prepared by HeatherFernbach, Fernbach History Services, Inc.http://www.cityofws.org/portals/0/pdf/planning/publications/historic/ForsythCountysAgriculturalHeritage_20120601.pdf

From Frontier to factory: An Architectural History ofForsyth County (1981) Prepared for the nC Department ofArchives and History, Winston-Salem/Forsyth CountyHistoric Properties Commission and City-County Planningboard of Forsyth County and Winston-Salem, nC.Prepared by Gwynne Stephens Taylorhttp://www.cityofws.org/portals/0/pdf/planning/publications/historic/Frontier_To_Factory_20100218.pdf

Nancy Creamer’s Remarks at the Winston-SalemFoundation 2012 Community Luncheonhttp://www.wsfoundation.org/document.doc?id=595

USDA Census of Agriculture, United States Department ofAgriculture (2012 and previous years)https://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/index.phpUS Census Bureau, American Fact Finder (2010 and

previous years)http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml

USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service Soils, UnitedStates Department of Agriculture (Current data andhistorical soil survey publications from 1976 and 1913)http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/soils/survey/publication/

At the Confluence of the Three Forks of Muddy Creek: AStudy List Application for a Rural Historic District,Hope-Fraternity Area, Forsyth County, NC (2009)Prepared by Micharl o. Hartley and Martha b. Hartley,consultants. A project of the City-County Planning boardof Winston-Salem/Forsyth County, note: The term Urban-Rural System as applied to the Moravian/Wachovia Tractcredited to the Michael o. and Martha b. Hartley in apersonal conversation with the author February 2016.

Appendix B: City-County Planning Board Resolution

Appendix D: Authority for County ActionAgriculture is the largest economic driver in the Stateof north Carolina. every year the population of thisstate increases along with the demand for services. Atthe same time we remain dependent on agriculture andforestry as the cornerstone for sound economicfooting.

In 1986, the north Carolina General Assembly passedthe north Carolina Farmland Preservation enablingAct. The stated purpose of this Act is “to authorizecounty government to undertake a series of programsfor the preservation of farmland.” This act enables cre-ation of Voluntary Agricultural District ordinances,such as Forsyth County VAD ordinance adopted onJanuary 28, 2008. This Act also created the northCarolina Farmland Preservation Fund. This fund is aresource to encourage action and provide assistance forcounties to be proactive stewards of their agriculturalamenities. one purpose of the fund is for the establish-ment of agricultural conservation easements (PACe)programs. by later amendment, the General Assemblycreated a matching mechanism for distribution ofFarmland Preservation Trust Fund monies, with prefer-ence to any county that has adopted a countywidefarmland preservation plan.

The Act declares that such a plan shall do thefollowing:

1. Contain a list and description of existingagricultural activity in the county. (See Chapter II.The economis of Agriculture, pages 13-18)

2. Contain a list of existing challenges to continuedfamily farming in the county. (See Chapter II. The economis of Agriculture, page 19)

Appendix C: Century Farms • Ruth Smith Abell (1884)

• Mrs. ned M. Conrad (1778)

• Hilltops Farm, llC: Robert Carroll Conrad III(1879)

• Yokley lauten Farm: Dwight D. Deal, Paige l.Deal (1875)

• boner Gordon Family Farm: Miriam Gordon Dean,Michael Gordon Culbreth (1750)

• Charles Ray Dillon (1878)

• Gladys C. Doub (1810)

• Watson Flynt (1895)

• Denise James Hickman, Monti James beasley(1896)

• linda M. Keeter (1839)

• Adrian M. Kreeger (1880)

• Jeffrey McHone, elizabeth McHone (1897)

• Jerry b. Pegram (1896)

• Susan Hunter Petree

• Carolyn Scott (1905)

• Curtis lentz Shore, Thomas Winburn Shore, HughTerry Shore, bennie Ray Shore (1791)

• bennie Ray Shore

• Hugh Terry Shore

• Thomas Winburn Shore

• Pine View Farm: David W. Spainhour (1873)

• James D. Speed

• Gaither Wayne Woosley, Riely l. Woosley (1908)

3. Contain a list of opportunities for maintaining orenhancing small, family-owned farms and the localagricultural economy. (See Chapter VI. Reinventingthe Rural Agricultural economy, pages 38-40)

4. Describe how the county plans to maintain a viableagricultural community and address farmlandpreservation tools including, agricultural economicdevelopment, marketing, farm diversification, tech-nical assistance, linking with younger farmers, estateplanning, entering into voluntary agricultural dis-tricts and agricultural conservation easements. (SeeChapter VI. Reinventing the Rural Agriculturaleconomy, pages 41-50)

5. Contain a schedule for implementing the plan andan identification of possible funding sources for thelong-term support of the plan. (See executiveSummary Recommendations and ImplementationSchedule, pages 6-8, Chapter VII Conclusions andDetailed Recommendations, pages 51-58)

The Forsyth County Commissioners appointed aleadership team to develop this plan and they are nowworking diligently to make the components a reality,for the good of agriculture, forestry and the citizens ofthis county. The objective of this plan is to accomplishthe best approach to sustaining farming and forestry asviable and sustainable industries in Forsyth County forfuture generations.

As the Reynolda estate celebrates the 100 year anniversary of its founding in 1917,Forsyth County looks upon its agricultural future in the 21st century.

The barn complex at Reynolda Farm photographed from the south by landscape architect Thomas W. Sears, circa 1919. Photo courtesy of Reynolda House Museum of American Art.

Design and production by Moonlight Designs, Inc. • Winston-Salem, NC

Edited by Carol A. Hildebrandt, BA

Academic Coordinator, Wake Forest Department of PA Studies

forsyth county farmland protection plan€¦ · executive summary 4 ... the broad perspective b....

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