The first time I ever stepped foot into a tom turkey house, I immediately ran to a corner to hide. Hundreds of gobbling white toms were heading straight for me—their heads reached above my hips. My hiding spot was quickly found as my butt was pinched by their curious pecking. I may have jumped out of my skin, but I learned that a friendly peck … Continue reading The Use of Antibiotics in Turkeys

I’m sure you have seen at least one: A documentary claiming to have all the dirty secrets and facts behind farmers in the United States with visual proof to go with it. “Food, Inc.,” by Robert Kenner, is a common anti-farming documentary. It specifically refers to Smithfield Foods—the largest pork producer in the world—and its pork processing plant in Tarheel, North Carolina. Tarheel is a … Continue reading The Truth Behind Factory Hog Farming

On January 21, 2019, Prestage Foods of Iowa is set to open its doors as the most modern plant in the world. This $325 million state-of-the-art pork processing facility is the future of meat production. “If you aren’t growing your company, then you’re just moving backwards. You have to spend money to make money,” says John Prestage, Senior Vice President of Prestage Farms. The plant is … Continue reading Prestage Foods of Iowa: The Future of Meat Production

Being a part of a family business that produces turkey and pork can only mean one thing: Thanksgiving is our favorite holiday! This year’s 20-pound heavy hen is already marinating to prepare for the feast and the turkey-printed dishes are ready to be filled. This year, there has been a nervous rambling about the recent outbreaks of Salmonella related to turkey consumption. As of November … Continue reading Thanksgiving Turkey Preparation: What You Should Know

There are nearly 73 million hogs in the United States, each of which produce 1.3 gallons of manure per day. To manage the waste produced by hog farms, operations implement anaerobic hog lagoons, which convert the waste compounds into carbon dioxide and methane through anaerobic respiration. The world’s leading pork producer, Smithfield Foods, is taking a leap to capture the methane produced and convert it … Continue reading “Manure-to-Energy” : Smithfield Foods aims for 25-by-25

On September 14, 2018, Hurricane Florence made its way into North Carolina where it left thousands without power, homes, and loved ones. For farmers—it left devastation. North Carolina produces about 60 percent of the nation’s sweet potatoes, making it the largest producer in the country according to EcoWatch. “We knew the losses would be significant because it was harvest time for so many of our … Continue reading Hurricane Florence: The Aftermath for Sweet Potato Farmers

Just a North Carolina girl excited to share with you everything agriculture related! “And on the 8th day God looked down on His planned paradise and said, ‘I need a caretaker.’ — So God made a Farmer.” – Paul Harvey Continue reading Family & Farming