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Volume 20 | Issue 1
State Rain Breaker form now available
According to the 2019 General Permit that is in effect, the permittee must:
a. install, operate, and maintain devices on all irrigation pumps/equipment designed to automatically stop irrigation activities during precipitation; or
b. commit to provide for the presence of the OIC, a designated backup OIC, or a person under the supervision of an OIC or designated backup OIC at all times during the land application of waste so that in case of a precipitation event, the irrigation activities will be stopped immediately.

On the form , check the box that shows your choice of either 1) or 2). Sign and list facility information at the bottom of the page. Keep this in your records available for review as needed. Update the form if anything changes.
Click on the image to the above to download the form that is required in the new permit in regards to rain breakers.
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Mark your calendars for the Annual Conference
Make plans now to join us March 10 & 11 for two days of workshops, networking, state and national updates and educational seminars. Conference registration is free. See event listing on website for more details .

Tuesday, March 10*
1 p.m. Registration opens
2 p.m. Where do we stand, an update from the CEO
3 p.m. November Election Outlook
4 p.m. Welcome social
5:30-10 p.m. Bacon Bash (Members-only event to raise money for the NCPC Political Action Committee.) 
 
Thursday, March 21*
7:15 a.m. Breakfast 
7:45 a.m.  Annual Meeting
8:30 a.m. State and National updates
10:30 a.m. Break out Sessions (Choose one)
  • Sludge Management and Research (OIC credit)**
  • African Swine Fever update
11:15 a.m. General Session (OIC credit)**
12:30 p.m. Awards luncheon ($15)
2 p.m Extended Breakout Sessions 
  • Batch Farrowing
  • TBA
4 p.m. Adjourn

*Schedule subject to change
**OIC credits will be applied for
Book conference hotel by Feb. 16 for best rate

Hilton Raleigh North Hills (formerly North Raleigh Hilton)
3415 Wake Forest Rd
Raleigh, NC 27609
Rooms in the room block are $159; secure your room by Feb. 16 to ensure best price!
Reserve your room now online or call 1-800-774-1500 and use the code NCPORK to receive the group rate.

The Hilton Raleigh North Hills is just off the Wake Forest Road exit on the I-440 Beltline. Parking is free and abundant on site for all visitors. The hotel is convenient to downtown Raleigh and to North Hills.
Conference sponsorship opportunities are available!
Nominate a deserving colleague today!
The annual Awards Luncheon will be held on March 11. Consider nominating a worthy colleague for one of these awards: 
  1. Hall of Fame
  2. Outstanding Pork Producer of the Year
  3. Emerging Leader Award
  4. Award for Excellence in Innovation
  5. W.W. Shay Award for Industry Distinction

Deadline for nominations is Feb. 5.

Click on the award to learn more and to download a nomination form.
Please participate in rural broadband internet survey
The Broadband Infrastructure Office of the N.C. Department of Information Technology has been working on a survey to capture data on broadband availability on farms and to locate underserved areas.

Specifically this survey is targeting connectivity to farm offices , although the survey has a few questions at the end on connectivity in the fields. Please take the survey from your farm office.

The survey requires an address for the farm office, seeks information about availability of wired, cellular and wireless (fixed and satellite) connectivity and performs a speed test.
First lawsuit appeal to be heard in Richmond on Jan. 31
North Carolina's hog farmers came under a vicious, well-financed attack by class-action law firms in recent years. Five cases went to trials, with negative – and unfair – outcomes in each. Now, the first trial, which involved Kinlaw Farms in Bladen County, is making its way to the appeals process at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit based in Richmond, Va.

Lawyers from both sides will outline their case to a three-judge panel in Richmond on Friday, January 31. The ruling will not be known for a few months.

Lawyers for Murphy Brown have outlined seven mistakes that they believe warrant a reversal of the original decision. Read more about the mistakes in the Fall Pork Report.

A recording of the oral arguments should be available on the court's website on Monday, Feb. 3.
BACON BASH will be held on March 10.
Members-only event. Click on image for more details.
Connect with @NCPork on our social channels
Share your pork pride using #NCPorkProud