R.C. Hunt grew up on a tobacco farm and ventured into the livestock business after graduating with an animal science degree from North Carolina State University in 1977. Along with a business partner, he purchased a farm in Wilson County, North Carolina. In 1992, they established a 2,000-sow farrow-to-wean swine facility on a 400-acre tract of land, and the swine operation has been in continuous operation ever since.
When they began designing their animal waste lagoon for the swine operation, Hunt and his partner participated in a state share-cost program that provided access to engineers, ensuring the lagoon was constructed correctly.
Initially, the land had been used for crops but had become worn out. To revitalize it, they converted the land to pasture and utilized waste from the pigs as fertilizer.
“With rest and nutrition, the land has recharged,” Hunt says. “It’s been amazing to watch.”
The improvement in soil health was so significant that, after 25 years, they were able to reintroduce some of the land back into crop production, achieving yields that are double what they were before.
While the farm has been highly productive over the past 30 years, Hunt is now approaching retirement. He is focused on ensuring the land remains sustainable for future generations.
“We like to say we own the land, but truly we just manage it for a period of time we’re on this earth,” Hunt explains. “I’ve done the best I could to generate as much production as I could. Now I am thinking about what happens to it next.”
With the closure of the swine operation expected by the end of December 2024, Hunt is particularly concerned about the future of the lagoon. His plan is to clean it up and convert it into a freshwater pond that can serve as a water source for future farming or irrigation. However, this conversion is expected to cost $300,000, primarily due to the sophisticated equipment required for the process.
To support this transition, Hunt has applied for and received cost-share funding assistance from the NRCS’s EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program). This funding will require him to follow best management practices during the lagoon conversion. The entire process is projected to take 30 to 60 days, with the final remnants of pig waste being spread across 900 acres of corn in the area.
During a May 2024 press conference in North Carolina, Hunt emphasized the importance of climate-smart agriculture funding: “It will help farmers preserve our land and reduce our carbon footprint, ensuring we can continue to operate sustainably for generations to come.”
Hunt is a longtime collaborator with Solutions from the Land, having co-chaired the North Carolina Climate Smart Agriculture Work Group, demonstrating his commitment to sustainable practices in agriculture.
This article is part of an ongoing series on climate-smart funding, organized by the Climate Action Campaign and Solutions from the Land. As we approach the upcoming Farm Bill decisions, it’s crucial to highlight stories like that of R.C. Hunt to educate decision-makers on the true impact of funding initiatives that support our farmers and the environment.
Hear more from R.C. personally in his June 2024 op-ed featured in The Wilson Times.
