Hog farm Coverage

NC farm bill tinkers with hog waste, water rules

The bill, likely to move this week, also forbids surprise inspections at veterinary clinics, offers new protections for trout streams and requires schools to offer muscadine juice.

Travis Fain, WRAL state government reporter

Hog farm cited for dozens of environmental violations

Environmental advocates are calling for more transparency and oversight of hog-waste digesters after a system on a Wayne County farm erupted May 30, flooding the area with millions of gallons of gray, greasy, foamy waste.

'Disgusting': Environmental groups call for more oversight after hog waste system erupts

Environmental advocates are calling for more transparency and oversight of hog-waste digesters after a system on a Wayne County farm erupted May 30, flooding the area with millions of gallons of gray, greasy, foamy waste.

Laura Leslie, WRAL capitol bureau chief

Rutherford County woman has more than 50 pigs in her backyard!

There's a woman in Rutherford County who loves animals, especially the pot-bellied kind. All 50 of her pigs are rescues.

Farm bill clears NC Senate, heads to Cooper for signature

Bill includes hog farm biogas language environmentalists don't like, and they urge a veto.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

House OKs plan for any NC hog farm to collect methane gas

The House on Thursday approved legislation that would allow hog farms across North Carolina to set up methane collection operations without each one going through an individual permitting process.

Matthew Burns, WRAL.com senior producer/politics editor

Labor language dropped, hog farm language kept as NC farm bill moves forward

Lawmakers in the state House dropped a provision from the state's annual farm bill Wednesday that workers' advocates said would weaken protections.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

NC Senate calls for blanket permits for hog farm methane systems

Environmentalists cry foul, saying the bill is an effort to "lock in" the system of storing hog waste in ponds and spraying liquid watse on nearby fields.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Underground pipeline for methane gas proposed in eastern NC

A joint venture between pork producer Smithfield and Dominion Energy would create an underground 30-mile pipeline in Eastern North Carolina carrying methane gas from hog farms to a facility in Duplin County.

Indira Eskieva, WRAL Eastern North Carolina reporter

Organic waste offers alternative energy solution when the grid goes out

Before North Carolina's Co-Ops stepped in, Tom Butler had enough power to sustain his farm. Thanks to the Co-Ops, his farm now produces enough electricity to power at least 28 homes in Harnett County for several hours.

Hog waste a source of energy in Harnett County

There are some who believe that hog waste, for the most part, is pretty useless.

Indira Eskieva, WRAL Eastern North Carolina reporter

RYKE LONGEST: Farm Act makes important records secret, opens loopholes for industry

Tuesday June 9, 2020 -- North Carolina's hog industry won over the public interest in the General Assembly last week, but it's not too late for Gov. Roy Cooper to act. The legislature amended SB 315, the NC Farm Act, to make swine farmers' public records exempt from public inspection and codify a new loophole in the longstanding swine waste lagoon and sprayfield moratorium. It's a one-two punch that would shroud polluting farms in secrecy while allowing them to expand for the first time since 1997. The governor can still choose to veto.

Senate passes annual Farm Act

The state Senate may take a vote to override Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of the $24 billion state budget.

DRAUGHON DRAWS: 'Reefer Madness' strikes legislature

Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019 -- Capitol Broadcasting's editorial cartoonist.

House tries to deal with probable cause issue in hemp, farm bill

Smokable hemp looks and smells like marijuana, which poses problems for law enforcement until hemp is banned in North Carolina next year.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Smokable hemp fight continues at General Assembly

Concern over "de-facto" marijuana legalization may threaten North Carolina's hemp industry.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Hemp, marijuana fight may doom NC Farm Act

A key section of the wide-ranging bill has divided two major agriculture allies at the General Assembly.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Annual farm bill clears Senate

Bill deals with hemp, pork, shooting ranges and sweet potatoes.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Bill advances on hemp, hogs, shooting and biogas

Hemp language intact, environmentalists still oppose livestock farm provisions.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Bill opens farms to skeet shooting, aids hog lagoon changes, hides records from public

Wide-ranging bill again pits hog industry versus environmentalists, farmers against neighbors.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

NC hog farmers wary of African swine fever

Sun Dawu's pigs started dying from a mysterious virus last December. Four months later, all 20,000 in one farm were dead.

By Adam Owens, WRAL reporter

Ag Secretary Perdue tours eastern NC

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue discusses the trade war, migrant farm workers and hog farm lawsuits after touring a Newton Grove farm and speaking with areas farmers.

Judge rules no punishing Smithfield Foods in hog farm nuisance case

A federal judge in North Carolina shut down a lawsuit against a Smithfield Foods hog-feeding operation on Thursday before jurors who determined the company was a nuisance to neighbors could discuss punishing the pork giant.

Another verdict against Smithfield Foods, but with low award

Award shrinks from millions in first three trials to six figures for multiple plaintiffs.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

4th Circuit cuts down gag order in hog farm cases

Judges admonish: "Gag orders should be a last resort, not a first impulse."

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter