Land Use Plan – 2002 - Stanly County, North Carolina

STANLY COUNTY
production closely following those numbers. Of the cash receipts generated in the county, 80
percent are from livestock sales and 20 percent from crop sales.
Preserving prime farmland areas as an important resource is essential for the community as
well as for future generations. According to the USDA, “It is of major importance in meeting the
Nation’s short and long-range needs for food and fiber. The acreage of high-quality farmland is
limited, and the USDA recognizes that government at local, state, and federal levels, as well as
individuals, must encourage and facilitate the wise use of our nation’s prime farmland.”
According to the American Farmland Trust’s 1997 report Farming on the Edge, the Southern
Piedmont Major Land Resource Area (MLRA)—a zone that includes Stanly County and extends
from Northern Virginia to east-central Alabama—was identified as the 21st most-threatened
MRLA from among 127 MRLAs in the United States. This ranking was based on the relative
high-quality of the MRLA in terms of soil characteristics and other factors, and relatively high
development pressures in the region. Farming on the Edge recommends a series of general
recommendations for highly-threatened, high-quality resource areas such as the Southern
Piedmont (American Farmland Trust, 1997).
Prime farmland is defined by the USDA as ‘soils that are best suited to producing food, feed,
forage, fiber, and oilseed crops. Prime farmland soils produce the highest yields with minimal
inputs of energy and economic resources.’ A good amount of moisture from precipitation or
irrigation is usually received and the soil acidity or alkalinity level is acceptable. There are few or
no rocks in the soil and water and air can easily seep through. Erosion is low and flooding during
growing season is minimal. Slopes range usually from 0 to 6 percent.
Based on these criteria, Stanly County has 49,843 acres of prime farmland, approximately 20
percent of the county’s land area. Although these prime farmland areas are scattered around the
county, the largest concentrations are found in the Tatum-Badin-Georgeville and Misenheimer-
Kirksey-Badin soil units as shown on the general soil map (see Figure 3-2). Table 3-2 indicates
the individual soil phases that are considered to be prime farmland soils in Stanly County.
Table 3-2. Prime Farmland Soil Phases of Stanly County.
Soil
Percentage of
Stanly County
Symbol Soil Phase Acreage
Land Area
GeB Georgeville Silt Loam, 2 to 8
Percent Slopes
6,862 2.7
HeB Hiwassee Gravelly Loam, 2 to 8
Percent Slopes
1,781 0.7
KkB Kirksey Silt Loam, 0 to 6 Percent
Slopes
15,352 6.1
TbB Tatum Channery Silt Loam, 2 to 8
Percent Slopes
28,828 10.2
Source: Soil Survey of Stanly County, North Carolina, 1997.
Currently Stanly County has no farmland preservation methods in place. Neighboring Rowan
County to the north has a voluntary farmland preservation program in place with agricultural
districts. Landowners sign non-binding agreements to ‘sustain, encourage, and promote
agriculture’ and in return receive greater protections from nuisance suits filed by nearby
landowners as well as other harmful impacts (The Land Trust for Central North Carolina, 1997).
Stanly County has been involved in encouraging and educating residents on farmland
preservation. The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service of Stanly County held a Farm
Land Protection Seminar in May of 2001 to educate farmers and others about the different
programs, policies, and laws of the State and Local Governments for farm protection. According
to the Land Trust for Central North Carolina, sites totaling over 1,000 acres have been protected
as open space or farmland in the last three years within Stanly County. Additional sites totaling
200 acres will be signed soon for preservation. The State of North Carolina has limited funding
that individuals can apply for to preserve farmland. One of the criteria for receiving money is if
Land Use Plan 3-4 6/02