Partnership Ensures North Carolina Ag Has Seat At Table
By Tori Rumenik
Agriculture is North Carolina’s largest industry, generating more than $111 billion in economic impact and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs across the state. North Carolina leads the nation in commodities such as sweetpotatoes, tobacco and turkeys and ranks near the top in many others, such as hogs and pigs, peanuts and more.
The scale and diversity of our industry mean that decisions made in Raleigh and Washington, often far removed from day-to-day farm operations, have real consequences for the producers, rural communities and families that depend on them.
North Carolina agriculture is no stranger to change. Producers and agribusiness leaders are constantly navigating shifting markets, workforce pressures, evolving regulations and rising public expectations.
Recent research underscores why that engagement matters. A January report by NC State University economist Jeffrey Dorfman estimated that retaliatory trade policies tied to aggressive tariffs could put nearly $700 million in North Carolina farm revenue at risk. This is a reminder that decisions made away from the farm can have serious consequences.
The North Carolina Ag Partnership (NCAP) is a 501(c)(4) organization thatexists to promote and defend a strong economic and regulatory climate for agriculture and rural areas. We do that by convening the right voices, engaging thoughtfully on policy and ensuring agriculture’s perspective is present where decisions are made. We are nonpartisan, and our role is to be credible, informed and constructive.
NCAP focuses on bringing the voices of North Carolina’s agriculture community together for substantive engagement. Events held in conjunction with the Southern Farm Show bring together farmers, agribusiness leaders and public officials. Our judicial engagement efforts connect producers with jurists to discuss regulatory fairness, property rights and the importance of clarity and predictability for those who work the land.
NCAP stays consistently engaged on the policy issues shaping the agricultural landscape. Workforce challenges, food and nutrition policy debates, disaster recovery and regulatory implementation are recurring themes because they are persistent realities for producers.
NCAP submitted comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Army on proposed changes to the definition of “waters of the United States,” to support greater clarity and certainty for farmers who operate under these rules. It is one example of engagement focused on workable solutions grounded in real-world experience.
Agriculture depends on regulatory systems that are clear, consistent and predictable, because ambiguity introduces unnecessary risk into an industry that already manages constant change. Ensuring that policymakers understand how rules function on the ground is essential to getting those outcomes right.
None of this work is done in isolation. Our work depends on the producers, agribusiness leaders and allied stakeholders who choose to engage with us by attending an event, sharing valuable insights or lending their expertise to policy discussions shaping the future of agriculture. As our industry continues to evolve, so must the ways we communicate its value and needs.
NCAP remains focused on thoughtful, credible engagement and steady advocacy for an industry that feeds, employs and sustains our state. Agriculture’s seat at the table is not guaranteed. It has to be earned and maintained through informed participation and constructive dialogue.
Tori Rumenik is executive director of the North Carolina Ag Partnership. Visit ncagpartnership.com to learn more about the organization.