ment” has a name. It is called the “push factor”. The push factor is when “suburban areas expand and rural communities and farms are faced with increased noise, traffic, and complaints from new neighbors, along with high land values that make selling to developers financially necessary for many families.” Did you know that farmland is being lost at 1.5 million acres a
year? And that 70% of farmland is in the path of development? Not only have we started to see an increase in traffic and crime in our area, but we have also had to contend with environmental im- pacts from all the development. When these neighborhoods, storage facilities and commercial businesses start disturbing the land, every- thing changes. Wildlife loses space so they are forced onto our land and with that brings more predators. Water flow is disrupted so it causes drai- nage issues and soil erosion from run off. Water lines, sewer and elec- trical lines have to be built to sustain the growth and require parts of our land or county easements for cut-through to get to the new con- struction. Trash is carried with the wind and ends up all over our pastures. Signs have to be posted that say not to feed the animals and warnings that we have working livestock dogs. It always amazes me that people buy homes near farmland and livestock, yet their first com- plaints are about the noise and smell that livestock creates! HELLO! YOU BOUGHT A HOME NEXT TO A FARM!
Last year we lost one of our bucks because plastic from shingle pallets from the construction next door flew into our field and he choked on it. It was beyond devastating and totally preventable. The builders don’t care because to them we are just a thorn in their side and viewed as an obstacle for them to overcome in order to expand their interests.
In addition to all of that, they clear dense trees and forestland for home building so the trees that they leave along the edge of our property come down really easy in storms and we are constantly los- ing fences and having to call the builder to have them removed. I can honestly see why the rising land values are so attractive to land- owners and why so many producers and farmers sell at top dollar and walk away.
I am sure that what I am saying is nothing new to many of you.
We all face challenges, especially with community expansion and if you haven’t seen it in your communities yet, then it is just a matter of time.
It is not something that we can stop but it is something that we
can plan for. Shoot, Joni Mitchell felt this way in 1970! It is nothing new and as much as I dislike the sprawl, I love my little piece of prop- erty and my farm.
I think that the only way to combat growth is to lean into it and start getting involved with your county and community. Start being more informed and building a network of community landowners that support the rural way of life and want to preserve it. Work with developers and city councils to work through is- sues and to make yourself seen and heard. And always remember: we own our land, the land doesn’t own us. You can always start over somewhere else because greener pastures do exist! So don’t get discouraged!
(Tess Fetterly and her family raise 100% New Zealand and
purebred Kikos on Twisted Horns Farm in Jefferson, Ga., with a focus on sustainable agriculture. Tess can be contacted at twisted-
hornsfarm@gmail.com and find them on Facebook. Website:
www.twistedhornsfarm.com.)
May 2026 | Goat Rancher
11
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
