I cannot believe The Technician published such a blatantly biased, uninformed and inaccurate article about North Carolina’s pork industry (Hog waste causes environmental, socioeconomic disasters, Jan. 6.) 

The article gets even the most basic facts wrong. There are approximately 2,100 permitted hog farms in North Carolina — not 8,000 farms. And that error is just the tip of the iceberg. 

You claim that the hog industry is “still growing,” but there has been a moratorium on building new hog farms or expanding existing farms in place for nearly 20 years.

You report that some hog farms are allowed to discharge waste directly into waterways, a claim that is completely ludicrous. That would be a serious violation of the law in North Carolina, which has enacted some of the nation’s toughest environmental regulations on hog farms. 

Here’s the truth: Studies show that rivers in eastern North Carolina — including the Black River in the heart of hog country — are cleaner today than they were 20 years ago.

As a student in the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences who is majoring in Agricultural Science, I had the opportunity to work with the NC Pork Council last summer. I personally met many hog farmers and can tell you that they are hard-working and dedicated people who care deeply about protecting our environment. 

More than 80 percent of hog farms in our state are family farms, owned by good, honest people who work hard to provide healthy food and take good care of their animals. Most of them grew up raising pigs and all of them have tremendous respect for the land. 

I’m disappointed that our campus newspaper would use unsupported opinions and misinformation to attack an industry that means so much to the state of North Carolina and this university. The lack of journalistic integrity is appalling.

Sincerely,

Deans Eatman

Senior