Waterkeepers say hog farms not the problem in recent survey

Breaking News: We agree with the Waterkeepers!

No, we didn't stutter. In a recent survey conducted by the Coastal Carolina Riverwatch and contracted with ECU's Center for Survey Research, an overwhelming amount of respondents were positive about living within 5 miles of industrial farms. The majority of respondents said:

• Air quality was excellent

• Rarely noticed odors

• Farms (CAFOs) had no impact on air quality

• Farms (CAFOs) had no impact to water quality

On the whole, the Waterkeeper’s opinions about our farm families don’t match the opinions of local, everyday people. We wanted to highlight the true picture of communities and hog farms in North Carolina. This is also a great example of how groups make mountains out of mole hills. Activists like the Waterkeepers often are very loud, but small in number. They are also unwavering in their ambitions to eliminate animal agriculture.

Link to survey

Vote for agriculture in upcoming NC elections

As we look ahead at what issues will impact North Carolina’s farm families this year, the upcoming elections are front and center. There will be important elections taking place at the local, state, and national level, and we encourage everyone to understand the candidates’ views on agriculture.

Agriculture remains the largest industry in North Carolina, employing about 20 percent of the state’s workforce and providing an economic impact that exceeds $100 billion a year. That includes about 45,000 family farms.

Two of the biggest statewide races on our radar screen this year are the elections for Governor and Commissioner of Agriculture. With Gov. Roy Cooper’s eight years in office coming to an end, there is a crowded field of Republicans and Democrats vying for the state’s top job.

There are three candidates running for the Republican nomination, including Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, State Treasurer Dale Folwell, and trial lawyer Bill Graham. Graham’s law firm, you may recall, led the nuisance lawsuits against Smithfield Foods.

The Democratic field includes five candidates, led by Attorney General Josh Stein and former NC Supreme Court Justice Mike Morgan. Lesser known candidates include Chrelle Booker, Gary Foxx, and Marcus Williams. Stein has been endorsed by Gov. Cooper, former Gov. Jim Hunt, and much of the Democratic Party establishment.

Incumbent Steve Troxler, a family farmer from Browns Summit, is running for reelection as Commissioner of Agriculture. He has served in that role since 2005 and has been a strong advocate for family farmers during his tenure. Troxler has received many honors and awards during his career, including the “Order of the Golden Pig” from the NC Pork Council for his longstanding service and valuable contributions to the pork industry. 

Colby Hammonds, a family farmer who produces pasture-raised beef, pork, and free-range brown eggs in Wake County, is challenging Troxler for the Republican nomination. Dr. Sarah Taber, a farm operations specialist from Fayetteville, is the only candidate on the Democratic side. Neither Hammonds nor Taber have ever previously held elected office.

 The primary election will be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Early voting begins on February 15.

Beware of "Smell of Money" documentary

Documentaries are supposed to get it right, but sometimes they don’t. Sometimes they just want to push an agenda.

There’s a documentary called “The Smell of Money” that’s been making the rounds among activist groups recently. The film is an 84-minute attack on North Carolina hog farms and the family farmers who operate them.

It features all of the usual suspects—neighbors like Elsie Herring who were part of the nuisance lawsuits against Smithfield. Waterkeepers like Rick Dove and Larry Baldwin who spend their days flying over our farms. And prominent vegans like Sen. Cory Booker, who has introduced legislation to place an immediate national moratorium on large new farms.

You can learn a lot about a film by looking at the people who produced it. That’s certainly true with “The Smell of Money.” The film has deep ties to Mercy for Animals, an activist group with a stated mission to “end industrial agriculture.”

The filmmakers, Shawn Bannon and Jamie Berger, are both vegans who worked at Mercy for Animals. Actress Kate Mara, the film’s executive producer, is a vegan activist who volunteers with Mercy for Animals, PETA, and the Humane Society.

As a result, the film isn’t a true look at hog farming in North Carolina. It’s a documentary designed to drive home one overarching message: Stop Eating Meat.

Don’t spend your hard-earned money to watch this nonsense. Instead, go buy a pack of bacon and watch “Hog Farmer: The Trials of Joey Carter” on Prime Video.