Protecting the Heart
of Rural North Carolina
Farmland Conservation Meets Industrial Development
December 2024
In southeast Guilford County and northeast Randolph County, a transformation is underway. The Greensboro-Randolph Megasite, a 1,825-acre area dedicated to industrial property, has promised economic growth on an unprecedented scale. Announced in 2021, Toyota’s forthcoming lithium battery manufacturing plant is spearheading this shift. According to Toyota, as of 2023 the company had invested $13.9 billion and expected to create more than 5,000 jobs. The first phase of Toyota Battery Manufacturing NC is set to open in 2025, making North Carolina a key hub for electric vehicle production. Yet, amidst the excitement of economic progress, the region’s farming heritage may face great challenges.
Balancing Economic Growth with Land Preservation
“The Liberty-Randleman Corridor has been one of North Carolina’s strongest farming communities which is why we’ve been protecting farms there for decades,” said Kevin Redding, Executive Director at Piedmont Land Conservancy.
Stretching roughly 15 miles between Randleman and Liberty in northern Randolph County, the corridor boasts an established network of farms that collectively shape the region’s identity, economy, and natural spaces.
However, industrial developments like the megasite will bring ripple effects: infrastructure expansion like new roads and highways, upgrades to power grids, water systems, and internet services are often required. Suburban sprawl is likely as new housing and commercial areas may be created for the people who will work at the new manufacturing plant. All of this development will encroach on the land of this traditionally agricultural community.
To date, PLC has safeguarded 13 farms encompassing 1,786 acres within the Liberty-Randleman corridor. Although some change will come, together, these protected individual farms will help buffer the pressures of development which will help sustain the cultural traditions, economic vitality, and environmental health that make this farming community unique and essential to North Carolina’s identity.
The benefits of preservation are amplified when farms are conserved together. Culturally, protecting farmland in a community cluster means protecting generational knowledge of the land, seasonal gatherings of the community, and local food systems. Economically, a block of farms can better support shared infrastructure such as equipment suppliers, feed mills, and local markets.
Environmentally, it’s possible to maintain contiguous habitats to support wildlife and to protect water quality with natural streamside buffers.
Notable protected farmland properties in this area include Goat Lady Dairy, Whitaker Farms, Rising Meadow Farm, Williams Dairy, Troy Farms, Ferguson Farm, Coward Farm, Coltrane Dairy, Capps Family Farm, and Pacer’s Rest, each contributing to a network that supports local food systems, rural traditions, and open space providing ecological balance.
In December of 2024, PLC added two more protected farms to our preservation successes that will strengthen this area: Routh Family Farm and Humble Stock Farm.
Routh Family Farm
Dan Routh’s 96-acre farm in Randolph County stands as a testament to the enduring value of family farming and heritage preservation. A fifth-generation farmer, Dan grew up on the property when it operated as a dairy farm, working the land alongside his family in his youth. Although his professional career as a photographer took him in a different direction, Dan never lost his connection to the farm.
“This land has been in my family for over 100 years,” shared Dan Routh, “I don’t want to see it destroyed, so this conservation agreement is a win-win for me. I get some equity to continue operating the farm and to help with my retirement plus I get to protect my home.”
PLC submitted a grant application to the North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, securing a conservation agreement that permanently protects the property. While Dan no longer actively farms the land, he leases the pastures to a local cattle farmer who grazes livestock and harvests hay, ensuring the farm continues its agricultural purpose.
This farm, nestled between Williams Dairy Farm and Goat Lady Dairy, strengthens the interconnected agricultural community that PLC has worked diligently to protect. By conserving Routh Family Farm, PLC, North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, and Dan Routh have ensured that this land will remain a cornerstone of North Carolina’s rural landscape for generations to come.
Humble Stock Farm
Another of PLC’s recent conservation successes is Humble Stock Farm, 121 acres of farmland near Liberty. For Bruce and Darlene Humble, protecting their farm was about more than securing land, it was about safeguarding a way of life. With funding from the North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, PLC helped the Humbles permanently protect their land through a conservation agreement.
Bruce, a lifelong farmer, has embraced innovative practices over the years while staying rooted in traditional livestock farming.
Despite having no direct heirs to inherit the farm, the Humbles have ensured its future by creating this conservation agreement with PLC and planning to leave the farm to a local young farmer. This thoughtful planning guarantees that in spite of coming development, the Humble Stock Farm will remain dedicated to agriculture for generations to come.
The Path Forward
While the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite signals a new chapter for our region’s economy, it also underscores the importance of strategic conservation. Farmland isn’t a backdrop for progress, it’s an irreplaceable resource that feeds communities, sustains ecosystems, and anchors cultural traditions.
With PLC’s proactive efforts, farmers like Bruce and Darlene Humble and Dan Routh have the tools to protect their land and ensure its agricultural legacy endures. Through thoughtful conservation and community collaboration, it’s possible to balance economic growth with the preservation of the landscapes that define rural North Carolina.
As PLC continues to expand our farmland preservation initiatives, we know that every acre saved is a step toward a more sustainable and resilient future.