Yadkinville, NC

North Carolina’s agriculture sector ranks second in the nation with an annual economic impact of $12.5 billion. One of the reasons for the booming industry is North Carolina’s hog production. Loyd Ray Farms in Yadkinville, North Carolina is an example of how one farm has turned swine waste into something that can positively impact the community. The farm is able to collect methane from the swine waste of its 8,600 pigs and burn it to generate electricity.  As a result, the farm generates enough electricity to power half its energy use through this waste-to-energy project. In addition, the project has reduced the farm’s greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of removing 900 cars from the road annually!