The e-Newsletter of the NC Pork Council

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In This Issue
New Feral Swine Law
Troxler Proposes Ag Disaster Relief Plan
2010 NCPC Environmental Stewards Award

New Feral Swine Law Taking Effect on Oct 1

Please note that a previous edition of the Porkline incorrectly reported the effective date for portions of a new NC law aimed at combating the growing problem of feral swine.  All portions of the new law will take effect on Oct 1, 2011 -  in just a couple of weeks. 

  

The new law's primary objective is to stop the transport of feral swine into and around the state thus will require identification approved by the state veterinarian's office of all swine in transport on public roads including all commercial swine.  If stopped by any law enforcement officer, a person transporting swine without proper identification is subject to a $5,000 per head fine.

 

NCDA&CS's Veterinary Division has been working with producers to develop a number of identification options that will comply with the new law without placing undue burden or cost on producers. Those options will include:

  • Any official form of ID currently acceptable under federal law for interstate commerce (group/lot ID).
  • Metal "brite" tags issued free of charge by the state vet's office. 

Other forms of ID that are expected to be approved are use of slap tattoos or ear notches that link back to a Farm ID/State ID. 

  

A comprehensive list of Frequently Asked Questions prepared by NCDA&CS's Veterinary Division can be found here. 

 

You can also hear an interview with Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler about this new law by visiting NCDA&CS's "In the Field" blog.

 

If you would like to join a distribution list to receive updated information on this new law, please send an email to: Joe.Web@ncagr.gov and request to be added to the "swine ID distribution list."

 

If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact Angie at NCPC by email or by telephone: 919/781-0361.

Troxler Proposes Agriculture Disaster Relief Plan to Lawmakers

Troxler Photo
Last week, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler updated the NC House Agriculture Committee on the damage to our state's agriculture industry brought on by Hurricane Irene, which included an estimated $320 million in crop damage. 

 

Troxler also presented to the committee a six-point state agriculture disaster relief proposal to provide more immediate relief to farmers waiting on federal help. The plan would declare a state of emergency in affected counties to suspend certain rules and regulations in order to provide relief to farmers. It would also create a "bridge" loan guarantee partnership with private lenders, where the state would set aside $25 million to help farmers secure up to $125 million in private loans until federal money is issued. 

 

The proposal is expected to be considered by the General Assembly in November. A draft of that proposal can be found here.  

2010 NCPC Environmental Steward Award

GreenPig

Applications are now being accepted for the North Carolina Pork Council's 2010 Environmental Steward Award. Applications are due by November 15, 2010.

 

The NCPC Environmental Steward Award is a program to annually recognize a NC pork producer who excels in on-farm environmental stewardship. Started in 2008, it is also a great opportunity for the industry to promote environmental excellence and make the public - as well as policy makers - aware of the proactive measures producers are taking to protect the environment. The NCPC Environmental Stewards program is similar to the national program administered jointly between National Hog Farmer and Pork Checkoff. Both the state and national programs focus on manure management, soil conservation, water conservation, wildlife habitat, air quality and public relations. NCPC works with the top three applicants in the state program each year to help prepare their application for submission in the national program. 

 

A brochure about the award can be found at this link and an application is available for download here. 
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