Buffeted by economies woes and environmental crises, producers in this major hog-producing state have had to deal with multiple new regulations, a moratorium on new barns and the disappearance of many independent producers
By MARY BAXTER
Gerald Warren built his first confinement hog barn in 1971 for about US$20,000. Today, the 61-year-old’s North Carolina farm operation and its partners maintain a sow herd of 10,000, as well as 8,800 nursery spaces and 34 finishing barns with a combined capacity of 30,000 spaces.