Deadlines are coming up for awards nominations and general permit comments

Deadline extended! Nominate a deserving colleague today!

Nominations are being accepted through March 4 for annual awards to recognize excellence in our industry. The lineup includes awards that aim to recognize young leaders, industry employees and industry innovation.

Awards winners will be recognized at the Awards Luncheon at the Annual Conference on March 21.

For criteria and an application, click on the name of the award below:

The NC Pork Council Hall of Fame recognizes those persons with long and outstanding service to North Carolina’s pork industry and the North Carolina Pork Council. Entry to the North Carolina Pork Council Hall of Fame is the highest honor the organization bestows.

Outstanding Pork Producer of the Year recognizes and honors a pork producer or family who has made significant contributions to the pork industry in North Carolina.

Emerging Leader Award recognizes and honors a pork producer aged 40 or younger who has contributed to the pork industry in North Carolina and exhibits potential for leadership. In previous years, this award was known as the Pork All-American.

Award for Excellence in Innovation recognizes and honors individuals or institutions for advancing the pork industry through innovative techniques, applications and/or action that include -- but are not limited to -- environmental stewardship, sustainability, research, science and other related advancements in the pork industry.

W.W. Shay Award for Industry Distinction recognizes and honors an individual who has exhibited outstanding service to the pork industry as an employee of a pork industry company. For purpose of this award, a company may be a farming company, an integrator, a processor, an allied company or other related entity. This award is named for William Warden Shay, who as the first swine extension officer in North Carolina instituted methods and techniques with the singular goal of securing and/or increasing profit for farmers from pork production in the state.

Support the interests of our industry --

every letter to DEQ matters

Activists are sending comments to DEQ and misleading the public about hog farmers. Tell your side of the story, because if you don't someone else will.

DEADLINE IS MONDAY, MARCH 4!

Sending a Letter:

Personalized letters have a greater impact and can be emailed to DEQ at SwinePermit.Comments@ncdenr.gov. To assist in these personalized letters, feel free to use the talking points below.

If you do not feel you have time to send a personalized letter, you can sign and send a pre-written letter here: https://ncfarmfamilies.com/stand/ It takes less than 60 seconds!

Talking Points:

Additional regulations are not necessary. According to DEQ records, there are not widespread violations that necessitate adding new regulations to the General Swine Permit.
North Carolina already has some of the nation’s toughest regulations for hog farms, including an annual on-site inspection of every farm and comprehensive rules about managing animal waste. Farmers care about our natural resources and comply with these regulations.
Adding new regulations to the General Swine Permit is costly, time-consuming and unnecessary. No other industry is subjected to annual on-site inspections AND required to complete annual compliance reports.
Requiring electronic records does not strengthen our state’s environmental protections.
I support family farmers and everything they do to support the North Carolina economy and our rural communities. Do not make life more difficult for our farmers by adding burdensome regulations