The drought in Middle Tennessee is still with us, leaving farmers uncertain about harvest

By 2027, the amount of land loss is expected to rise to 2 million acres.

I found this study from the University of Tennessee Ag Institute that showcased this quandary.

During the last five years, Williamson County has lost the most farmland to development. That tracks as the population has risen significantly in Williamson. The U.S. Census has a quarter of a million people now living there.

Meet The Cherry and why they keep farming by tapping the link.

Emily R. West / WTVF

With farmland disappearing, I had to find out where it was going and getting lost.

Sumner County was suffering a similar fate to Williamson.

From 2014 until 2023, Sumner County lost more than 15,000 acres of land to development — both residential and commercial.

On average, 63,537 acres are developed on a yearly basis in Tennessee, according to UT economist Charley Martinez. However, since 2017, that number shot up to an average of more than 86,000 acres.

Sumner County ranks ninth in Tennessee for farmland transitioning to houses or commercial real estate since 2017.

You can tap the link to read why this group of people said they will fight farmlands going to development.

Emily R. West / WTVF

Despite Franklin County agriculture producing a $162 million economic impact, the rolling farmland nestled in the valley of Monteagle Mountain has slowly been affected by development.

Franklin County has lost the most acres since 2014. It totaled up to 26,000.

The Dixons don’t want their farmland to become a part of the statistics.

In attempts to diversify the farm, Dixon is the primary manager for Granddaddy’s Farm, a fall experience for families that includes pumpkins, corn mazes, a kids zone, landslides, pig races, flowers, and food.

Right now, three generations are farming together. Andrew is the fourth generation. He is hoping his son Carter will take an interest in becoming the fifth.

You can read about the Dixons and generational farming in Tennessee by tapping this link.

Farmland and Tennessee

Are you seeing farmland disappearing or land changing in your neighborhood? Please tell me.

I have been working on stories about the tug between agriculture and development. I came to this topic because of a line in a press release from August from the University of Tennessee Agricultural Institute. It pointed to a study about disappearing farmland an economist had done. I found the economist, talked with him and compiled the data for our viewing area for NewsChannel 5, which covers 45 Tennessee counties.

I am now exploring how this affects you. If you want to talk, my email is emily.west@newschannel5.com.