2019 Year in Review

Before we step into a new decade, let’s take a quick look back at 2019 and everything that happened here at NC Farm Families and in our communities. We are so thankful that you have been with us — through the good and the bad — every step along the way. We could not do what we do without your support. Whenever you like or share a post, or speak up in support of our farmers, it makes a difference in our efforts to protect our farm families. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for believing in us and supporting our work.

A Successful Farm Tour with NC Legislators

One of our goals at NC Farm Families is to educate the public and tell the stories of our farmers. We hosted a farm tour in July that allowed us to do both with more than two dozen legislators from both sides of the aisle. It was a great opportunity for our lawmakers to get a first-hand look at farms and meet real farmers.

The tour began at a feed mill in Warsaw, then moved on to turkey farms, hog farms, and a renewable energy project that is now turning hog waste into natural gas. Along the way, the legislators engaged in real conversations with our family farmers. They peeked inside barns, stood next to lagoons, and saw for themselves what it is like to live and work on a North Carolina farm. We are so grateful to each and every one of the legislators who took time out of their busy schedule to join us, and a special thank you to Rep. Jimmy Dixon for helping organize the tour and to the individual farmers who graciously opened their farms to visitors.
We believe there is no better way to showcase the importance of North Carolina’s family farms than to let people see them for themselves. We hope to host more farm tours in 2020.

Nuisance Lawsuits

The nuisance lawsuits that threaten NC hog farmers continued in 2019. A fifth trial was held in Raleigh, and a jury again sided against Murphy-Brown and our farmers in March. In the five trials held so far, juries have awarded plaintiffs a total of $550 million in damages.

As we look to next year, future nuisance trials remain on hold until Murphy-Brown’s appeal is heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals. Arguments in the case are scheduled for January 28-31, 2020 as the appeals court considers requests to dismiss the case, reverse the punitive damages award, and/or order a new trial. Rulings are typically issued 3-6 months after oral arguments are heard.

Shining A Light on Our Farmers

The best way to learn about our industry is to meet the family farmers across North Carolina. We continued to introduce you to new farms and new families through our “Faces of Farm Families” series. These features always receive a wonderful response and we look forward to continuing these features in the new year. If you know of a family that should be featured, let us know!

General Permit

As the NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) considered changes to the general permit for swine and other livestock operations, NC Farm Families helped make sure our farmers’ voices   were heard at public hearings and through public comments. Thanks to your efforts, we submitted more than 3,000 letters to DEQ expressing our concerns with proposed revisions to the permit.  The new permit, which took effect on October 1, is currently being appealed by the NC Farm Bureau and others.    

A New Website For NC Farm Families

To strengthen our online presence and make our website easier to navigate, we launched an updated website in August to serve as the new face of NC Farm Families.  If you haven’t checked it out, visit www.ncfarmfamilies.com.

Looking to the Future

The upcoming year is certain to bring new challenges to our industry. The uncertainty around the nuisance lawsuits continues to hang over our head and new threats continue to emerge — including legal challenges aimed at North Carolina’s Right to Farm laws. We will continue to keep you informed about these important issues and will not hesitate to ask for your help when needed. We will need your continued help to protect our farmers and our rights.

The strength and resilience of our farm communities is so impressive.  We will continue to showcase our farmers and our positive impact on our communities through farm tours, online features and more. The North Carolina pork industry supports more than 50,000 jobs and contributes over $13 billion for the North Carolina economy — and attacks on farmers impact our families, our communities, and our economy.  Standing together to protect our farm families protects us all.

Thank you for your unwavering support and bold passion for our family farmers.

Happy New Year!

2018--A Challenging Year for Hog Farmers but Not Without Its Rewards

When I say that 2018 was a challenging year, I expect most of my fellow hog farmers will nod and say, Amen. This past year we’ve all wrestled with many challenges – some we saw coming and others no one could have foreseen. There have been many lessons learned and a few rewards along the way.

I began the year with my normal routine of managing our family’s nursery pig farm. By mid-January, my ‘normal’ changed when my father was hospitalized with a blood infection. My new normal became working the pigs in the morning and then driving to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, NC to be with my dad.

During those drives, I couldn’t help but reflect on my father’s life and how hard he has worked and how much he loved being on the farm. I was grateful that the farm my grandfather started, and my father and uncle continued to build, had provided so many opportunities for me – one of which was living and working on the farm every day. Fortunately, over time, my father overcame the infection and he’s doing well today.

In March, I attended my second National Pork Forum in Kansas City, Missouri. Talking with pork producers from other states opened my eyes to how differently we all do things yet how we all strive for the same goal – to produce safe, nutritious and affordable pork while being good stewards of the environment.

In June, the opportunity to get involved in the industry knocked on my door in an unexpected way, and, as always, it involved getting out of my comfort zone. Becoming the Director of NC Farm Families was an exciting challenge, especially during such a turbulent time with the nuisance lawsuits and a swine waste general permit up for renewal. Thankfully, many talented and hard-working individuals are part of NC Farm Families and they have not only guided me but worked tirelessly to support our farmers. I’m very honored to be a part of this organization and I’ve grown and learned so much in such a brief time.

Finally, I want to say how much I respect farm families across the state of North Carolina. I’ve watched farmers fill the balcony of the General Assembly to support Senate Bill 711 and gather peacefully at the Bicentennial Plaza to support NC farmers. I’ve sat beside some of you in a federal courtroom in Raleigh to witness firsthand how justice sometimes isn’t served, at least not yet. I’ve witnessed Hurricane Florence destroy nearly everything, except for our sense of community, and I’ve been on my knees at the alter with fellow believers to pray for our farmers. I simply can’t express how proud I am to be a part of this.

I hope that you continue to be as engaged in agriculture as you have been this past year. I also challenge you to look for new ways to get out of your comfort zone. In today’s world, we need each and every one of you to tell your agricultural story.

This upcoming year will certainly bring its own set of challenges, but I assure you that NC Farm Families will continue to work diligently to protect farm families.

--Chad Herring

NCFF Director