In the News

Our poultry producers owe a debt of gratitude to U.S. Reps. Renee Ellmers, Mike McIntyre and Larry Kissell. Poultry is important to North Carolina, and our economy has been suffering because of recent droughts out West and from decreased demand and the increases in feed prices. This has had a damaging effect on our producers and their families. But instead of addressing the real causes of these problems, some continue to push for an increase in burdensome regulations by the federal government.

To protect farmers and provide sustainable solutions, we must allow more flexibility in the renewable fuel standard and decrease the ethanol subsidy mandates that are driving up feed and fuel costs.

Congress members Ellmers, McIntyre and Kissell have been working tirelessly on the House Agriculture Committee in a bipartisan effort to address these issues and to push for a study to estimate the feasibility of a safety-net program for our poultry growers. The implementation of a poultry safety net will allow our farmers to adapt to changing market conditions while protecting their farms and businesses from further harm. Decreasing the regulatory burdens on our farmers is the only way our industry can grow and prosper.

A recent article in the Observer implied that regulations protect growers when, in fact, overregulation has caused them great harm. Instead of increased regulations, we should be focusing on the issues that are truly affecting N.C. poultry. Our N.C. Agriculture Committee members of Congress, Ellmers, McIntyre and Kissell, are tirelessly working to address our empty chicken house problems.