Farmers and Ranchers, after Hurricane Matthew

North Carolina Flooding Kills Thousands of Livestock

Estimates are that flooding has killed tens of thousands of livestock in North Carolina as a result of Hurricane Matthew. Governor Pat Mcrory said officials would work to clean up the carcasses as fast as possible to avoid freshwater contamination and a potential public health threat. A Washington Post article says the state is trying to avoid a similar problem it experienced back in 1999 when thousands of dead hogs and chickens floated for days in the floodwaters from Hurricane Floyd. The Governor added that a “lot of animals have died, in the thousands.” Matthew Starr of the Waterkeeper Alliance said photos show floodwaters up to the roofs of barns and, in his words, “the flooding is quite terrible.” Brian Long of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture said they have not received any reports of waste lagoons breached by floodwater, but it is a huge concern. It’s not just bad news for livestock farmers. Crop farmers lost millions of dollars in crops for the second year in a row. Ten straight days of rains in 2015 ruined the harvest in eastern North Carolina.

Largest Hog Processor to Reopen Thursday

The plant’s electric supplier said Smithfield Foods Inc. hopes to reopen its Tar Heel, North Carolina facility on Thursday. The plant is the largest hog processing facility in the world. This will hinge entirely on whether or not employees can make it into work safely. It will also depend on whether or not farmers can deliver hogs as well. Hurricane-related disruptions are still causing problems in the pork industry. Through Tuesday of this week, hog slaughter is 101,000 head behind last week’s numbers. Kill numbers are also 52,000 behind last year. Buying interest outside of corrective trade in the industry probably won’t pick up until the supply backlog is worked through.

Source;  NAFB News