poultrywasteimpact

As the poultry industry surges in North Carolina, environmental groups and state regulators are trying to get a handle on the waste that's produced.

The demand for poultry is exploding across the country, and that massive growth plays out in North Carolina, one of the nation's top poultry producers.

WFDD is reporting on the poultry industry this week, and how a new study shows that there is little oversight on the waste that's being produced. Today, we go to Surry County in Western North Carolina, where the issue hits close to home.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality has issued a new report that takes a closer look at poultry farming in the state. Officials say they had no idea how much waste is coming from the industry, and that it's a lot more than they anticipated, topping cattle and swine combined.

Large-scale poultry production is ramping up in North Carolina and getting closer to residential areas. Neighbors say the smells and pollution from these farms can make it hard to breathe.