RALEIGH — As the number of hogs in the state increases as fast as the people population, one state lawmaker wants to stop the competition for space.

Rep. Richard Morgan, R-Moore County, wants to halt all new hog production for a year and put a cap on expansion of existing hog farms. He said he was motivated to write the bill when hog producers announced they wanted to put a large hog farm hear some golf courses in Moore County. Morgan said he wanted to make sure heavy spending tourists to his county won't have to smell hog waste.

"This is an issue that affects a lot of people and perhaps it's time for increased regulation of the expansion of this industry in North Carolina," he said.

Hog farmers however are opposed to the plan. North Carolina Pork Council President Whitley Stephenson said the industry provided more that 25,000 to the state and is the leading farm income producer.

Stephenson said this proposed bill would shut some hog farmers down since they would not be allowed to expanded. He said the farmers were trying to curb the hog smells already.

"We're trying to do something about that," he said. "We're being proactive and we need credit for that. We've not solved the issue but we're addressing it."

Morgan's bill is expected to come to the House floor later this week. Opponents are attempting to send it back to the Agricultural Committee where it would probably die