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UNC-TV to Broadcast Views on Food, Inc. at 10:35 PM on April 21 
This Wednesday, April 21 at 9:00 p.m. UNC-TV will broadcast Food, Inc., a 2009 documentary about modern food production in America.
Immediately following the documentary at 10:35 p.m. UNC-TV will broadcast "Views on Food, Inc.," a thoughtful conversation with representatives of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, NC State University, the North Carolina Poultry Federation and the North Carolina Pork Council moderated by UNC-TV's Rob Holliday.
Views on Food, Inc., offers some involved in NC agriculture the opportunity to give another side to the story and show viewers that Food, Inc., is not representative of agriculture production here in this state.
Representing the pork industry will be Bundy Lane, owner of Sarem Farms in Gates County. Sarem Farms, a 4,800 head multiplier contracted with Murphy-Brown, LLC, is part of a diversified farming operation owned and operated by Lane, his parents, Roger and Rita Lane, and his brother, John Lane.
Other panel participants are: Dr. Kelly Zering, associate professor, Agricultural and Resource Economics at NC State University; Dr. Richard Reich, assistant commissioner for agricultural services at NCDA&CS; Richard Lobb, director of communications, National Chicken Council; and Dr. Nancy Creamer from the Center for Environmental Farming Systems. In Food, Inc., filmmakers allege that food animals are raised inhumanely on factory farms and that "industrial farms are also dangerous for their workers, pollute surrounding communities, are unsafe to our food system and contribute significantly to global warming." The film offers solutions to the dilemmas set forth in the film by encouraging viewers to participate in practices like "Meatless Mondays," and to only buy organic food and antibiotic-free meat.
The movie has been criticized for its biased portrayal of food production in the United States. For us at NCPC, an obvious bias is the absence of a pork producer interviewed or featured anywhere in the film. The lack of honest dialogue about pork producers is disappointing because movie producers toured and shot footage at a North Carolina farm and interviewed a NC pork producer. But, when NCPC inquired about what footage would be included in the film from their NC farm visit, we were told that they would not be using anything from their farm visit here because it just didn't fit.
Other critics say that the movie dangerously misleads consumers by arguing that "big is bad" and "small is good," when the reality is that high quality, safe, nutritious food is produced by operations big and small, organic and non-organic, pasture-fed or raised in barns, or produced without antibiotics or produced using antibiotics when needed to keep the animals healthy. Food produced in America is all about choice and the market is big enough for all who want to participate.
Tune in to UNC-TV at 10:35pm this coming Wednesday to see the panel discussion "Views on Food, Inc."
When that discussion is over, create your own opportunities to talk about food production in our country and educate those around you about your role in the pork industry. Don't let someone else do the talking for you!
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| Vernon Cox joins NCDA&CS as Environmental Specialist
Vernon Cox has joined the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as environmental programs specialist.
Prior to joining NCDA&CS, Cox worked 15 years with the N.C. Division of Soil and Water Conservation, and had been chief of its Technical Services Section since 2004.
"Vernon has extensive experience working with environmental programs affecting agriculture," said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. "He has worked closely with local, state and federal conservation partners to assist North Carolina's agricultural community in addressing environmental and natural resource issues."
A native of Columbus County, Cox grew up on a small tobacco farm near Tabor City. He is a graduate of N.C. State University, where he earned bachelor's degrees in agricultural business management and agricultural engineering technology and a master's degree in agricultural economics.
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| Applications Submitted for Funding under Lagoon Conversion Program
The N.C. Division of Soil and Water Conservation announced today that seven applications for monies requesting a total of $3,882,300 for lagoon conversion projects under the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative have been received by the Division. The application period closed last week.
The Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative is making more than $1.1 million available in 2010 to farmers who implement new technologies that provide better water quality protection, reduce odor emissions and capture methane.
The five-year program is carried out through a partnership between the N.C. Division of Soil and Water Conservation, local soil and water conservation districts and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service. Funding comes from the Natural Resources Conservation Services' Environmental Quality Incentives Program. In June 2009, the first round of funding was made available by state and federal officials to assist two swine farms to convert to innovative technology and decommission inactive waste lagoons on nine swine farms.
"We appreciate the support of our conservation partners at NRCS to continue to promote adoption of innovative waste management technologies in the animal industry, which is so important to the state's economy," said Pat Harris, director of the N.C. Division of Soil and Water Conservation. "This initiative furthers the department's goal of growing a green economy by supporting industries that promote environmental protection and energy independence."
Harris praised the federal funding initiative, stressing the importance of finding innovative ways to meet conservation objectives during a severe economic recession. The initiative gives highest priority to the installation of innovative swine waste management technologies consistent with the state's Lagoon Conversion Program. The program was established by the General Assembly in 2007. To be eligible for funding consideration, projects must meet environmental performance standards established by the General Assembly. The initiative places special emphasis on projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and produce renewable energy. As such, funds not used to install lagoon conversion technologies may be used to close existing swine waste lagoons or install other waste management technologies that yield renewable energy or greenhouse gas emission reductions.
Swine farmers who participate in the initiative may receive 75 percent of the typical cost of eligible practices. Producers applying for Lagoon Conversion Program projects and producers classified as beginning, limited resource, small and socially-disadvantaged farmers, ranchers and Indian tribes may receive up to 90 percent of typical costs to install the waste management technologies. Participants must meet the federal program's eligibility criteria to receive funding.
Applications were received from producers in Sampson, Duplin, Johnston, Wayne, and Greene Counties.
David Williams, the program administrator, said 2 or 3 would most likely be chosen, but applications have not yet been ranked for contract awards. |
Upcoming Events
"Managing Alligatorweed in Pastures & Sprayfields" April 28, 3-4pm 1 hour animal waste credit No pre-registration required; no cost to attend Duplin County Center (Lois G. Britt Agricultural Service Center) For more information: Wanda Hargrove at 910-296-2143
Duplin County Farmers Health and Safety Day April 22, 9am-4pm Duplin County Center (Lois G. Britt Agricultural Service Center) Led by Agrisafe, this is an opportunity for farmers to get health, vision and hearing screenings, spirometry tests, and other health-related screenings.
Contact: Barbara Gallagher at 910-567-7159 Initial Animal Waste Certification Training, Type A (10-hour class) April 28-29, 2010 9am-5pm Onslow County Center, Jacksonville Pre-registration required; fee applies to cover costs
Contact: Nita Walton at 910-455-5873 July 20-21, 2010, 9am-5pm
Mt. Olive College, Agribusiness Center
Pre-registration required; fee applies to cover costs
Contact: Kim Davis at 919-731-1520 Private Initial Pesticide Certification Training April 20, 10am - Review; 1pm - Exam Duplin County Center (Lois G. Britt Agricultural Service Center) To register and/or to get a book: Wanda Hargrove at 910-296-2143
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AgriSafe Webinars
See below for upcoming educational webinars being offered by AgriSafe.
There is no cost to attend.
April 28, 2010 - 12-1pm CT
Title: First Aid for Farm Families: Using Interactive Learning Modules to Improve Emergency Preparedness
Presenter: Ann Carruth, RN, DNS
Professor, School of Nursing, Southeastern Louisiana University
May 12, 2010 - 12-1pm CT
Topic: National AHEC Organization
Presenter: Kelly Withy, MD, PhD
Director, Hawaii/Pacific AHEC, Board Member, National AHEC Organization
June 17, 2010 - 12-1pm CT
Topic: The Agricultural Health Study
Presenter: Laura Beane Freeman, PhD
Investigator, Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute
Click here for the most up-to-date information and further details on how to join the webinars.
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