Waterkeepers Turn Up the Heat

The Waterkeeper Alliance has just released nine new videos attacking North Carolina hog farmers. So why has the Waterkeeper suddenly gone into overdrive?Well, the answer may be politics.To put it as bluntly as possible: The Waterkeepers want to pressure newly elected officials to pile on even more regulations that will hurt North Carolina hog farmers.When it comes to hog farmers, North Carolina already has the toughest regulations in the nation. The Waterkeepers can holler at the top of their lungs that hog farmers are “polluting,” but Hurricane Matthew proved that the Waterkeepers are dead wrong.State reports showed that 99.5% of the hog farms weathered the storm without a spill or a leak. That proves the tough regulations passed by the state over the past decade worked. Here’s a video that tells a story about how one farmer complied with those regulations.[video width="1280" height="720" mp4="http://ncfarmfamilies.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/james-blog.mp4"][/video]There has been a lot of criticism lately in the media about “fake news stories” on the Internet. These new videos are more “fake news” – compliments of the Waterkeepers.It’s all just politics, of course. The hard part is, when the Waterkeepers play politics, hard working farmers get hurt.

Scaring the Pants Off People

There’s a lot of negative news and fear tactics being used these days, and some recent articles written by Lisa Sorg of NC Policy Watch are no exception. Ms. Sorg wrote two articles (one about a superbug alert & the other about a buy-out program) that utilizes fear tactics and puts a negative spin on the pork industry.On a hog farm somewhere in the U.S. – Ms. Sorg warns that a “wayward gene has… created a bacteria that is resistant to drugs.”Sounds like a nightmare. But is it?Ms. Sorg, an ally of the Waterkeepers, is writing about a report from Ohio State University. But, in fact, hog farmers across the nation voluntarily participate in Ohio State University’s studies for one reason: to help keep our food supply safe.Ohio State University also reported not a single pig “scheduled for slaughter carried the mutant genes.”So the system didn’t break down – it worked.But straining to find a crisis, spinning away, Ms. Sorg went on to report the wayward gene could “enter the food supply through raw meat.”Now think about that: How many people eat raw pork?Ms. Sorg doesn’t stop there with her reports on the hog industry, though. She wrote another article about swine farm buy-outs. What’s interesting about her latest broadside isn’t the story she tells – it’s her spin.Ms. Sorg starts out by reporting about a state program. Back in 1999, after Hurricanes Floyd, Dennis, and Irene the program set out to buy-out and close 42 hog farms located in the 100 year flood plain.Now one thing Hurricane Matthew proved is that the buy-out program and the state’s new regulations worked. During Hurricane Matthew, there wasn’t a leak or spill on 99.5% of NC’s hog farms, but Ms. Sorg didn’t mention that fact.Instead, she reports the state needs to buy-out more farms – to avoid a looming environmental disaster.That’s called pushing the panic button to scare people.And that’s how ‘spin’ works: You manufacture a crisis, leave out facts that say your nightmare isn’t real,  then try to scare the pants off people.

NC Farm Families: 2016 Summary

In Review

North Carolina Farm Families has had a busy year educating the public, answering attacks, leading an intensive media campaign, and protecting the farm families of North Carolina. These efforts would not be possible without the support of all of you and so many friends. Thank you.Your constant support has allowed NC Farm Families to accomplish goals and make positive strides for farm families across the state. The following is a brief summary of the 2016 year.

Media Campaign

January 2016……………..Phase 1 of Media Campaign Launched

• The first wave of ads focused on the messages that farmers work hard, are important to the economy, feed 20 million Americans, and hog farmers are not harming the waterways (Black River). These ads were aired through TV, radio, newspapers, and Internet statewide.

April 2016………………….Phase 2 of Media Campaign Launched

• The second phase of ads aired on TV, radio, and Internet. The focus was the cycle of applying waste, how complex the regulations that hog farmers must comply with, and how James Lamb has done it right for 18 years.

August 2016……………Phase 3 of Media Campaign Launched

• The final phase took on Robert Kennedy Jr. and his claims that hog farms were “sprouting like mushrooms,” lagoons were overflowing, and hog farms were hidden.

Results—Polls taken after every ad showed an increase in hog farm favorability.

 Other Events and Activities:

• Presence at community events
• Daily social media monitoring, posts, and engagement (Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter)
• Published Op eds in local newspapers
• Presented at universities, events, and to organizations.

 

What Now?

We have certainly done a lot, but there is much left to be done. The Waterkeepers and cohorts have stepped up their attacks on farmers. Recently, they released 9 videos online that accuse hog farmers of polluting and claim racial bias. They are dead wrong…again.NC Farm Families is dedicated to upholding our mission to protect the farm families of NC. And, we plan on doing just that by setting the record straight. Stand with us as we continue to fight for the truth.

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Stay up to date by joining our email list on our website and following us on social media. You can also read our responses to attacks on our blog, The Farmkeepers, also found on our website.