Farmland loss, what can we do about it and what does it mean for our communities with Tori Ruminek

In this episode of On the Record, Emily sits down with Tori Rumineck, Executive Director of the North Carolina Ag Partnership, to unpack one of the most pressing (and misunderstood) issues in North Carolina today: the rapid loss of farmland and the future of agriculture in a growing state. From shocking statistics about farmland loss to the real reason farming isn’t as profitable as you think, this conversation dives deep into the tension between development, affordability, and preserving rural life. If you live in Eastern North Carolina—or care about where your food comes from—this is a conversation you need to hear. 👉 Expect a nuanced, real-world discussion (not black-and-white takes) on: Growth vs. preservation Why farmers are selling land The truth about GMOs, food safety & “MAHA” And what YOU can actually do to support local agriculture ⏱️ Timestamps 0:00 – Intro + why this topic matters now 1:15 – Meet Tori Renick + what the NC Ag Partnership actually does 3:30 – Agriculture is STILL NC’s #1 industry ($110B impact) 5:00 – Top commodities in North Carolina (you might be surprised) 7:30 – Why livestock production is more complex than it looks 10:15 – The hidden issue: NC is a grain-deficit state 12:00 – Hog farm moratorium (since 1997) & why new farms are nearly impossible 15:00 – The BIG stat: NC projected to lose 1M acres of farmland by 2050 17:30 – Conservation easements explained (and why they matter) 20:00 – Tax programs that keep farmers from being taxed off their land 22:30 – Voluntary ag districts + protection from nuisance lawsuits 25:00 – Where farmland loss is happening most (urban sprawl explained) 28:00 – The real culprit: low-density housing 31:00 – Why it’s NOT “anti-development vs pro-growth” 34:30 – The harsh truth: farming isn’t very profitable 38:00 – Why small farms are disappearing faster 41:00 – Input costs are up 40% (and what that means for farmers) 45:00 – Short-term vs long-term solutions for agriculture 48:00 – The consumer’s role (yes, YOU matter more than you think) 52:00 – GMO / bioengineered foods: are they actually safe? 57:00 – “MAHA” movement: what’s real vs what’s misunderstood 1:02:00 – The convenience problem: we want local food… but not the effort 1:06:00 – Why grocery stores respond to YOUR buying behavior 1:09:00 – 75% of ag production comes from just 3,500 farms 1:12:00 – How small farms survive (value-added products explained) 1:15:00 – The cost of farming equipment (and tough business decisions) 1:18:00 – The impossible balance: growth vs preserving rural land 1:22:00 – The “everyone wants land” problem (and why it’s complicated) 1:26:00 – Why there is no simple solution 1:29:00 – What you can actually do to support local agriculture 1:32:00 – Closing thoughts + how to get involved Additional Sources: https://www.ncagr.gov/march-2026/open    • NC Ag Partnership 2025   https://www.osbm.nc.gov/blog/2024/08/... https://storage.googleapis.com/csp-fu... https://ncfarmlink.ces.ncsu.edu/nc-fa... https://ncchamber.com/2023/08/02/stat.... https://www.wral.com/story/where-does... NC Ag Partnership & How to Support: https://ncagpartnership.com/ If you're interested in buying/selling real estate in Pitt or the surrounding counties: [email protected] 252-300-0939 https://www.emilysellsgreenvillenc.co... Chapters