Farmers in North Carolina preparing for Hurricane Matthew

Oct 07, 2016

Storm expected to hit this weekend

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

With Hurricane Matthew scheduled to hit North Carolina this weekend, hog farmers are being reminded to take proper precautions to protect themselves and their animals.

“Our farmers have faced several strong hurricanes in the past. They know what to expect and understand the importance of being prepared ahead of time,” said Deborah Johnson, CEO of the N.C. Pork Council, according to The Sampson Independent. “Farmers are putting emergency action plans into effect to protect their employees, their animals and farms.”

Farmers are being asked to:

Test on-farm generators to make sure they’re working properly and ensure there’s enough fuel to power them.
Stock feed bins and make other arrangements should deliveries be delayed.
Monitor animal waste management systems and apply fertilizer to dry cropland.

Johnson said at the end of the day, farmer safety is paramount.

“Our top priority is keeping our farmers and our animals safe,” Johnson said. “No one is quite sure what to expect from Hurricane Matthew, but everyone is working together and doing everything they can to prepare for the storm in advance. Once the storm passes, we’ll assess any damage that occurred and be ready to respond quickly.”

Hurricane Matthew's projected route
Photo: National Hurricane Center

All across North Carolina, farmers are trying to prepare for Hurricane Matthew, despite not knowing what the storm could bring.

On Monday, Governor Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency in 66 counties to help producers get as much work done before Matthew arrives.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.