Urban sprawl is something that affects nearly every beef farmer in the United States.  Whether you live in Florida where new towns seem to pop up over night or near highly populated areas where commuters are buying up their idea of “the country life”, our city neighbors are getting closer to us everyday. Add to that the small world syndrome created by on-line social networking sites and instant answers provided by the internet where anybody can be an expert on any subject, including agriculture, with a few mouse clicks and we have a very dire situation upon us.  Unlike the old country song that says, “country wasn’t cool”, right now the country life is very cool and this phenomenon has brought up new challenges for us.

Suddenly we have new neighbors who are all experts on “green” living and while they know all the latest composting trends for their organic gardens and how to buy the best free range eggs.  They have little knowledge about how farmers are the original environmentalists (or as I prefer to say applied environmentalists) and the important role they play in the community they transplanted themselves into. 

 A case in point happened earlier this year in Monroe County Tennessee a, thriving agricultural county near Nashville that creates 20 million dollars of ag related revenue per year. New residents of the county were upset that a poultry company was planning on expanding its operations by relocating to the area.  So, they proposed a county ordinance that would prohibit any commercial animal operation from being housed within 1500 feet from any existing residence that was not on the property itself.  This would have affected not just the poultry company but every livestock operation in the county, forcing farmers to move their private property borders in 1,500 feet from any adjacent house.  I hope by now you realize how ridiculous this proposal was.

With only two days before the county commissions meeting to vote on this proposed ordinance the Monroe County Cattlemen’s Association mobilized and quickly took action to defeat the proposal.  With leadership and guidance about state zoning precedents from the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association and a letter of support signed by NCBA’s VP of Legislative Affairs Colin Woodall they had the necessary tools to win the support of the commissioners who defeated the proposal unanimously.  It also didn’t hurt that nearly every farmer in the county filled up the meeting room that night either! 

This story is probably not unique and one that perhaps has even happened in your own county.  If not, could it happen to your county?  What about the county next to you, what would be the ripple effect that could take place if it did?  Both questions I hope you take seriously and at least consider, even if the chances are remote.

The point of this story is two fold.  First, our consumers are all getting closer to us, either physically by urban sprawl or electronically via the internet.  We need to learn how to be the good neighbor so we can avoid any confrontations like the story above. Lastly, we all need to belong to our local, state and national organizations.  If you’re not a member or you have just left that renewal notice in the “To-Do” pile, turn it in and make sure your membership is current.  Without your support, the next time an urgent call is placed to respond to a situation like this, it might go unanswered.