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Agriculture <br /> Although agriculture is a dominant land use throughout Cheeks Township / <br /> development pressures in recent decades have contributed to the conver- <br /> sion <br /> of farmland for uses. Reported Cheeks Township cropland, <br /> both harvested and idle, diminished by over 30% between the years 1955 <br /> and 1977 (Table 3-123 ). <br /> TABLE 3-123 <br /> CHEEKS TOWNSHIP FARMLAND TRENDS 1 <br /> CHANGE ----T------- <br /> 1955 1977 1955-1977 CHANGE <br /> TOTAL CROPLAND 7294 ac. 4992 ac. -2302 -31.6% <br /> TOTAL PASTURE 2579 ac. 3085 ac. +506 +19.6% <br /> TOTAL FARMLAND 9873 ac. 8077 ac. -1796 -18.2% <br /> 1SOURCE: N.C. Crop and Livestock Reporting Service; Triangle 3',Council <br /> of Governments. <br /> As shown., the cropland base of the Township decreased in this period by <br /> 2,302 acres. In contrast, the pasture land base increased over the same <br /> period by almost 20%, or just over 500 acres. Overall, the combined total <br /> of cropland and, pasture land in Cheeks Township declined by about 1,800 <br /> acres between 1955 and 1977, representing an 18% loss. <br /> Part of this loss probably occurred as a consequence of the construction <br /> of Interstate 85 through Cheeks Township. The three Townships through <br /> which the Interstate was built lost an average of more than 26% of their <br /> total crop and pasture land, as compared to an average loss of 19% for the <br /> four remaining Townships. Such major highway construction can cause farm- <br /> land loss through both direct acquisition of right-of-way and through the <br /> commercial industrial and residential development that is stimulated by <br /> approved transportation access. The proposed widening of 1-85 to six <br /> lanes through this part of North Carolina, as well as the construction of <br /> the proposed 1-40 extension, would further upgrade transportation access <br /> to regional population and employment centers from Cheeks Township. Growth <br /> resulting from these changes will create additional pressures for the con- <br /> version of crop and pasture land to non-farm uses. <br /> Population growth pressures, even without the addition of such major public <br /> projects such as new highways, are likely to promote the conversion of <br /> farmland to residential and commercial use. Dairying, which is an impor- <br /> tant use of Township farmland south of 1-85, is especially vulnerable to <br /> the pressures of non-farm development. Relocation of such operations is <br /> very costly and often impossible. <br /> 123 <br />