Polk Commissioners say they support local farms only

COLUMBUS — Polk County resident Libbie Johnson let commissioners know this week she is not in favor of a recently approved resolution that she said supports pork giant Smithfield Foods.

The Polk County Board of Commissioners met Monday and heard from Johnson, with some commissioners saying they approved the resolution to support local farms, not large, commercial hog farms. 

The county approved a resolution in August in support of protecting farmers, after lawsuits were filed around the state against hog farmers. The resolution was approved by a 4-1 vote, with commissioner Ray Gasperson voting against the resolution.

Johnson told commissioners Monday that Smithfield Foods has a documented history of violations, especially concerning clean water quality.

“Although touted as an assault on family farms, this is not ‘family farms,’” Johnson said. “This is factory farms. The farms provide the land and the labor, but they work for a production contract.”

Although Smithfield Foods likes to brag about the economic uplift from the hog industry in North Carolina, people who live there do not see it, she said.

“Often, hog farmers operators still have to have second jobs,” Johnson said.

Johnson said Hurricane Florence drowned 5,500 pigs, and all the waste is being absorbed into the local eco system.

“Your resolution to support Smithfield hog farms opens up a possibility that hog farms will move west,” Johnson said. “This is concerning. I don’t think any of us want a hog lagoon next door to us in Green Creek or Lynn.”

She said she would prefer Polk County promote, protect and support the agriculture that is already in the area, with real family farms growing beef, mutton, poultry, vegetables, vineyards and apples.

Commissioner Vice Chair Myron Yoder said he has been challenged about the vote on the hog farms quite often.

“I appreciate the whole thing about you guys coming forward, because now I know how you feel about that thing,” Yoder said.

He said the reason he voted “yes” on the resolution was not because he was supporting Smithfield Foods, but because he does not want outside attorneys to come in and tell local farmers what they can and cannot do.

He said he lived real close to Green Creek Hounds, and although they are not necessarily quiet or good smelling, “I also don’t want out of state lawyers coming in here and tell the Green Creek Hounds what to do or what they can’t do. That was my premise on how I voted.”

Commissioner Tommy Melton also addressed why he voted in favor of the resolution.

“When that resolution was introduced, in no way did I raise my hand inviting hog farms to Polk County,” Melton said.

He said people are taking the resolution out of context. Melton said he supports farmers — all farmers.