Our Promise
We Care Principles
Protect and Promote Animal Well-Being
Caring for animals is one of a pork producer’s most important responsibilities. Healthy pigs are essential to producing safe, high-quality food, and farmers work every day to provide the care, nutrition and environment animals need to thrive from birth through every stage of life.
Working With Experts
North Carolina pork producers work closely with veterinarians, animal scientists and other agricultural experts to continually improve animal care practices. From nutrition and housing to disease prevention and transportation, science and professional guidance help inform decisions made on the farm every day.
Barn Biosecurity
Protecting pig health starts with preventing disease. Farms follow biosecurity practices designed to reduce the risk of introducing illness, including limiting unnecessary access to barns, maintaining strict sanitation procedures and following protocols recommended by veterinarians and animal health experts.
Produce Safe Food
Producing safe, nutritious food is one of a pork producer’s most important responsibilities. Food safety begins on the farm and continues through every step of the food supply chain, guided by science, oversight and a commitment to doing things the right way.
Working Together for Food Safety
North Carolina pork producers work closely with veterinarians, researchers, food safety experts, processors and government agencies to support practices that help keep pork safe. Through training, ongoing education and continuous improvement, producers remain focused on protecting the integrity of the food families bring home to their tables.
Food Safety Starts on the Farm
Producers follow established practices designed to support animal health and food safety, including biosecurity measures, careful recordkeeping and ongoing monitoring. Raising pigs in controlled indoor environments allows farmers to closely observe their animals and respond quickly to potential health concerns.
Ensure Practices to Protect Public Health
Protecting public health means recognizing that the well-being of animals, people and communities are connected. North Carolina pork producers work to support a safe food supply while adopting practices designed to safeguard the health of their employees, neighbors and the communities they call home.
Innovation and Stewardship
Farmers continue to adopt new technologies and practices that improve animal health, strengthen biosecurity and support responsible farm management. Decades of research and innovation have helped producers continuously improve the way they care for animals and operate their farms.
Renewable Energy Leadership
North Carolina is a national leader in producing renewable energy generated from swine waste. These projects capture methane that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere and put it to beneficial use, reflecting the industry’s ongoing commitment to innovation and environmental stewardship.
Provide a Safe Work Environment
The people who work in North Carolina’s pork industry are among its greatest assets. Creating a safe workplace starts with proper training, clear expectations and a commitment to continuous learning.
Built on PQA Plus®
The pork industry offers national training and certification programs designed to support employee safety, animal well-being and responsible farm management. One of the most widely recognized is Pork Quality Assurance® Plus (PQA Plus®).
Renewable Energy Leadership
PQA Plus certification includes education, testing and on-farm assessments that help reinforce best practices related to animal care, food safety and day-to-day farm operations. Through programs like these, producers and employees demonstrate their commitment to the We Care principles.
Callout: 5,145 PQA Plus certifications have been completed since the program launched.
(Is this nunber current? In North Carolina or nationally? If NC specific, let’s highlight it)
* PQA Plus is a national education and certification program that provides producers and farm employees with the tools and knowledge needed to support animal well-being, food safety and continuous improvement.
Safeguard Natural Resources
Protecting natural resources is essential to the future of farming. North Carolina pork producers are committed to responsible stewardship and continuously look for ways to improve efficiency, reduce waste and use resources wisely.
Doing More With Less
Farmers are continually finding new ways to operate more efficiently. One example is the natural cycle of using manure to fertilize crops, which can then be used to help feed livestock. Practices like these help reduce waste and make the most of valuable resources.
Research shows that American pig farmers today use 76 percent less land, 25 percent less water and 7 percent less energy to produce pork than they did 50 years ago. The NC Pork Council remains committed to protecting natural resources and supporting continuous improvement for future generations.
Contribute to a Better Quality of Life for Our Communities
North Carolina pork producers contribute to the communities they call home in many ways. They volunteer their time, support local schools, churches and youth programs, and strive to be good neighbors.
Rooted in Community
Many farm families have lived in these communities for generations. They raise their families where they farm and hope to pass that legacy on to the next generation. Because they live where they work, they have a personal stake in the future of their communities and the quality of life they help sustain.