Support Family Farmers with Your Vote

Our right to farm can be impacted by elected officials at the local, state and national level. Here are some questions to consider:

• Who has a track record of supporting North Carolina farmers?

• Who will ensure that regulations aren’t overly burdensome on our farmers?

• Who supports reigning in mandates like California’s Prop 12?

• Who will promote free trade policies that support agricultural exports?

NC Commissioner of Agriculture

The Commissioner of Agriculture is one race that has a direct impact on North Carolina’ farm families.

Republican Steve Troxler, a family farmer from Browns Summit, has served as our Ag commissioner for nearly 20 years and has always been a strong advocate for family farmers. The economic impact of the agriculture industry has grown from $59 billion to $111.1 billion under his leadership.

Democrat Sarah Taber is a crop scientist and expert in food supply chains, safety, and infrastructure. She advocates for increasing the diversity of the crops we grow in North Carolina — from hemp to hazelnuts — to boost farm income. But she has called America’s love of family farms “unfortunate” and expressed concerning views (add links) about our state’s pork industry on several occasions. Taber has never held elected office.

Waterkeepers say hog farms not the problem in recent survey

Breaking News: We agree with the Waterkeepers!

No, we didn't stutter. In a recent survey conducted by the Coastal Carolina Riverwatch and contracted with ECU's Center for Survey Research, an overwhelming amount of respondents were positive about living within 5 miles of industrial farms. The majority of respondents said:

• Air quality was excellent

• Rarely noticed odors

• Farms (CAFOs) had no impact on air quality

• Farms (CAFOs) had no impact to water quality

On the whole, the Waterkeeper’s opinions about our farm families don’t match the opinions of local, everyday people. We wanted to highlight the true picture of communities and hog farms in North Carolina. This is also a great example of how groups make mountains out of mole hills. Activists like the Waterkeepers often are very loud, but small in number. They are also unwavering in their ambitions to eliminate animal agriculture.

Link to survey

Vote for agriculture in upcoming NC elections

As we look ahead at what issues will impact North Carolina’s farm families this year, the upcoming elections are front and center. There will be important elections taking place at the local, state, and national level, and we encourage everyone to understand the candidates’ views on agriculture.

Agriculture remains the largest industry in North Carolina, employing about 20 percent of the state’s workforce and providing an economic impact that exceeds $100 billion a year. That includes about 45,000 family farms.

Two of the biggest statewide races on our radar screen this year are the elections for Governor and Commissioner of Agriculture. With Gov. Roy Cooper’s eight years in office coming to an end, there is a crowded field of Republicans and Democrats vying for the state’s top job.

There are three candidates running for the Republican nomination, including Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, State Treasurer Dale Folwell, and trial lawyer Bill Graham. Graham’s law firm, you may recall, led the nuisance lawsuits against Smithfield Foods.

The Democratic field includes five candidates, led by Attorney General Josh Stein and former NC Supreme Court Justice Mike Morgan. Lesser known candidates include Chrelle Booker, Gary Foxx, and Marcus Williams. Stein has been endorsed by Gov. Cooper, former Gov. Jim Hunt, and much of the Democratic Party establishment.

Incumbent Steve Troxler, a family farmer from Browns Summit, is running for reelection as Commissioner of Agriculture. He has served in that role since 2005 and has been a strong advocate for family farmers during his tenure. Troxler has received many honors and awards during his career, including the “Order of the Golden Pig” from the NC Pork Council for his longstanding service and valuable contributions to the pork industry. 

Colby Hammonds, a family farmer who produces pasture-raised beef, pork, and free-range brown eggs in Wake County, is challenging Troxler for the Republican nomination. Dr. Sarah Taber, a farm operations specialist from Fayetteville, is the only candidate on the Democratic side. Neither Hammonds nor Taber have ever previously held elected office.

 The primary election will be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Early voting begins on February 15.