CARRBORO - Farmers worried about fertilizer and land-use rules had a message for the Board of Aldermen: you're either with us, or against us.

Farmers spoke of the odds they already face fighting Mother Nature and big, corporate farms. Now some are concerned the town is joining the list of adversaries.

At Tuesday's Board of Aldermen meeting, several farmers said they had heard citizens were urging the town to draft a "farm code" and they worried about what it might mean.

But town officials said they're not working on a farm code.

"I'm not really sure what that means," said Town Manager Steve Stewart.

The only recent change the town has made in its regulations requires a permit and notification for fertilizer applications over 2 acres or more, he said.

But Stewart said the new rules affect only four or five properties and are part of the town's federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit.

But many of the dozen farmers who spoke live in the town's extraterritorial jurisdiction -- land outside the town limits that the town controls -- and feel Carrboro exerts unwanted influence on them.

Some of the conflict centers on zoning rules.

Some farmers say they should be able to build residential units for family members on their farms without having to get town approval.

Marilyn Kille built a rental apartment in her barn in 1997. A widow, she said her tenants have provided her security and been trained in farm operations.

Stewart said the town began looking into Kille's apartment after getting a complaint from a "dissatisfied" tenant.

Mayor Mark Chilton has said Kille told the town she was building a workshop then "covertly" changed it into an apartment. Kille now faces forgery charges for allegedly altering a town document about her plans.

At Tuesday night's meeting, Kille addressed the aldermen with her voice raised, at times on the verge of tears. She said since she no longer has a tenant, her farm has suffered "unceasing vandalism."

"Just this morning we found two of our ponies on Old Fayetteville Road, and I want to know who the hell let them out," she said.

Rob Hogan, another farmer, said he felt the aldermen were squabbling over small details. "The only few comments your board has made the whole evening has been about rent," he said.

Chilton said he was open to compromise, and the aldermen have asked the town staff to further review the farmers' complaints.

But the farmers didn't seem satisfied. Outside, they hugged one another and offered words of support.

Kille stood on the steps of Town Hall with a small cluster of people, continuing their discussion about her farm under the dim lights.

jmarch@nando.com