A Day on the Ground in Animal Agriculture
January 24, 2026
| Friends, As we watch this winter storm approach over the weekend, I hope your families and your operations are safe and prepared. If needed, please refer to Executive Order No. 31, which declares a state of emergency and temporarily suspends certain motor vehicle regulations. Now, onto the Dispatch. I know I keep saying this, but it truly was another great week at the NC Ag Partnership. Some weeks, I wonder if I spend too much time on the road and not enough at my desk, but telling the story of agriculture well means spending time with the people who live it every day. This week, I had the opportunity to tour the entire poultry supply chain, and I left even more proud of and confident in our food system than when I arrived. I was joined throughout the day by Summer Lanier, executive director of the North Carolina Poultry Federation, who graciously answered my many questions along the way. The Federation is in excellent hands, and Summer’s experience and leadership were evident at every stop. A few things struck me as I toured a hatchery, a poultry farm, and a poultry processing plant on Tuesday. First, animal welfare is not just a priority; it is foundational. At each stop of the day, the wellbeing of animals was cited as the driver behind why a process was set up a certain way or why the temperature was set where it is or (in a unique week) how the animals would be cared for during a massive winter storm. As someone who has spent a significant amount of time in produce packinghouses and very little with animal ag, this was an eye-opening view into the care and responsibility that goes into raising our animal proteins. Second, while technology plays a critical role, there is nothing that beats a human touch in this process. I saw hatching racks that rotate automatically to mimic a hen’s natural behavior and incubators that keep the eggs at the perfect temperature, but I also saw the tireless work of employees moving the eggs in and out of the incubators on strict schedules and meticulously cleaning and sanitizing each hatching area. I heard stories of how veterinarians regularly visit the poultry houses, listening to the sounds of the animals and observing their behaviors to ensure conditions are just right. One of the most striking moments was when I saw a side-by-side comparison of a chicken breast harvested by a machine versus by hand. The difference was staggering; the machine was fast, but the human was more precise and had significantly better yield. My terrible joke of the day is that you can’t have protein without the “pros”! Finally, North Carolina’s agriculture industry has a bright future. I met leaders from every part of the supply chain and of all ages who share a genuine commitment to both animal care and the people they work alongside. Our rural communities offer young people real opportunities to build meaningful careers close to home, and our agricultural sector makes that possible. All of these takeaways reinforced my belief that the work we do together through the NC Ag Partnership is incredibly important. Most people never get the chance to see these processes up close, which makes it even more critical that we tell agriculture’s story truthfully and accurately. Not every process can—or should—be automated, and protecting and supporting our agricultural workforce must remain a priority. And while not every early-career professional will choose to stay close to home, we must continue to nurture and mentor those who do. Thank you to our partners at the North Carolina Poultry Federation for a wonderful day. You have my commitment to serve you well. The countdown is on for the 2026 Farm Show Dinner! We look forward to seeing many of you on February 5 at Angus Barn. Thank you for your overwhelming support of this event. Best regards, |
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| Tori Rumenik Executive Director, North Carolina Ag Partnership |