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Hog and Poultry Farms and their Effects in NC

North Carolina is home to a vast livestock industry. It is often praised for its contributions. In 2022, North Carolina ranked first in the nation for poultry and egg cash receipts, second for turkey production, and third for hogs and pigs. With millions of chickens, turkeys, and hogs raised annually in the state, the industry has a significant impact on the economy. Unfortunately, it also has a massive effect on the environment. Let us take a closer look at the negative side of CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations).


Stats on farms:

Pigs in hog farm
Pigs in hog farm

According to Waterkeeper Alliance, “The size of hog operations in the coastal plain grew by over 45 percent in the ten years ending in 2007. The roughly 10 billion gallons of waste North Carolina’s hogs produce each year is kept in unlined cesspools, then sprayed on cropland.” (Simon, 2024).


Hog lagoons (purple) hold the waste generated by the pigs.
Hog lagoons (purple) hold the waste generated by the pigs.


In 2020, on any given day, there were approximately 9 million pigs, more than 161 million broiler chickens, and 16 million turkeys. These animals produce about 147.5 million pounds of waste every day. That waste contains more than 1.24 million pounds of nitrogen and 434,000 pounds of phosphorus (Simon, 2024).


The most concentrated areas were in Duplin and Sampson counties.
The most concentrated areas were in Duplin and Sampson counties.



In 2024, the lower Cape Fear River watershed had the highest density of CAFOs worldwide, containing 10 million hogs, 16 million turkeys, and 300 million chickens. The most concentrated areas were in Duplin and Sampson counties (Shaw, 2024).

How these farms contribute to climate change?

  • Manure from poultry and hog farms releases methane and nitrous oxide, the second and third most common greenhouse gases (after carbon dioxide) that contribute significantly to global warming. It is highly potent – around 25 times more effective at trapping heat than CO2 is over a 100-year period. 

  • Animal farms contribute to methane emissions in two ways: enteric fermentation and manure management.

    • Enteric fermentation is a natural process that some animals go through during digestion. Microbes break down and ferment the food, producing methane.

    • Animal manure is usually stored untreated for many months. During this time, anaerobic bacteria breaks down the manure, creating methane as a by-product.

      We can see enteric fermentation and manure management account for around 38% of all methane emissions, more than any other source.
      We can see enteric fermentation and manure management account for around 38% of all methane emissions, more than any other source.

  • Nitrous oxide is another greenhouse gas released from animal waste. This gas has a global warming potential nearly 300 times greater than carbon dioxide. It is produced when animal waste is applied to fields as fertilizer. This is often done to get rid of the waste.

    As we can see, more than 80% of all nitrous oxide emissions came from this problem.
    As we can see, more than 80% of all nitrous oxide emissions came from this problem.

  • Ammonia is another gas released when waste decomposes in storage areas. This gas can contribute to acid rain, increasing the pH of nearby water systems and creating several environmental problems.

    We can see how nitrous oxide/nitrogen leaves the farm. In many ways, it leaks directly into the air, water, or soil, where it can severely impact the environment. Nitrous oxide is also in the meat and other products that are taken to the markets.
    We can see how nitrous oxide/nitrogen leaves the farm. In many ways, it leaks directly into the air, water, or soil, where it can severely impact the environment. Nitrous oxide is also in the meat and other products that are taken to the markets.


What happens to the waste:

  • The waste is usually stored in hog lagoons on hog farms, which are large, open pits in the ground. These pits are designed to hold manure, urine, and other products from the pigs. The waste is usually stored there for months, decomposing and producing methane and other harmful gases. On poultry farms, the waste is usually stored in waste pits, where it accumulates for a long time before disposal, also contributing to methane emissions.

    • The waste sits there for a long time, allowing gases to be released into the atmosphere. If it rains during this period and the lagoon overflows, all the waste inside will pour out into the surrounding lands, breaching water systems, groundwater, and nearby communities.

      This is one of many hog lagoons that were breached when Hurricane Mathew hit. The lagoons overflowed and leaked the manure inside into the floodwaters, contributing to a dangerous rise in bacteria in the surrounding areas. 
      This is one of many hog lagoons that were breached when Hurricane Mathew hit. The lagoons overflowed and leaked the manure inside into the floodwaters, contributing to a dangerous rise in bacteria in the surrounding areas. 

  • One way waste is disposed of is by spreading it onto nearby crop fields as fertilizer. This may seem helpful because manure is rich in nutrients and can help plants grow. However, there are several significant environmental problems.

    • The manure is usually applied in excess, causing the soil to have high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. When it rains, these nutrients can run off into bodies of water, leading to water pollution. The excess nutrients can cause algal blooms, which consume the oxygen in the water. Without enough oxygen, the organisms in the water will die, creating a whole shift in the ecosystem itself.

    • This runoff can also leak into groundwater, contaminating drinking water as well.

Manure being sprayed onto farmland.
Manure being sprayed onto farmland.


Effects on health:

  • When the waste and excess nutrients reach the water, pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella, heavy metals, harmful bacteria, and other harmful materials can enter the water supply, creating serious health risks. 

  • When waste is sprayed onto fields as fertilizer, it can release tiny particles of dust, bacteria, and other pathogens into the air. Surrounding communities must inhale these particles, which can cause respiratory problems such as asthma.

  • The smell from the waste storage is very strong and unpleasant. This is due to hydrogen sulfide, another gas produced in the lagoons. It can cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea when inhaled. Long-term effects include dermatitis, eye irritation, respiratory issues, and more.

The closer people live to hog farms, the more likely they are to develop health risks.
The closer people live to hog farms, the more likely they are to develop health risks.

Solutions and mitigations:

  • Enforcing stricter waste management rules, such as treating waste earlier and covering manure storage areas to prevent methane buildup, could lower the amount of greenhouse gases that are released. 

  • Stricter consequences for farms that fail to contain waste properly or pollute the waterways can encourage them to store waste more effectively.

  • Promoting renewable energy, such as biogas systems that turn methane into energy, can lower greenhouse gas emissions and produce a positive result.

  • Allowing the community to have a say in the practices of the farms around them can help control these farms’ harmful practices.

  • Encouraging the farms to be more transparent about how they impact the environment can educate the public on the actions these farms practice. This will create more attention to the negative side of the farm industry.

  • As local citizens and people who live in NC, we have the right to protest these practices. If we all raise our voices, we can create changes that will positively impact the environment and us.

Final words:

North Carolina’s poultry and hog industries might bring a lot of money and jobs to the area, but they also negatively impact the environment and our health. From polluted waterways and climate change to respiratory issues and more, the hidden costs cannot remain hidden. By taking action to balance economic growth with environmental protection and fairness, we can create an industry where agriculture works for all.



References:


Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.-b). Understanding Global Warming Potentials. EPA. https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/understanding-global-warming-potentials


Initiative, M. E. S., News, M., & Climate, M. (2021, November 3). Unchecked growth of industrial animal farms Spurs long fight for environmental justice in Eastern NC. MIT Climate Portal. https://climate.mit.edu/posts/unchecked-growth-industrial-animal-farms-spurs-long-fight-environmental-justice-eastern-nc


Kanankege, K. S. T., Traynor, I., & Perez, A. M. (2023, February 8). A reanalysis: Do hog farms cause disease in North Carolina neighborhoods?. Frontiers in veterinary science. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9945130/


Shaw, D. (2024, October 16). Mapping the impacts of North Carolina’s poultry industry . Coastwatch. https://ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/coastwatch/fall-2024-mapping-the-impacts-of-north-carolinas-poultry-industry/



USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service . (n.d.). 2023 North Carolina AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS. Raleigh, NC.










3 Comments

Guest
Mar 14, 2025

Wonderful information! It helped me ace my APES test.

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Guest
Mar 09, 2025

Great information!

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Guest
Mar 09, 2025

Very informative! Very relevant as an NC resident!

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