Hog CAFO construction and temporal trends in racial/ethnic demographics, economic growth, and land use in North Carolina

Since the mid-twentieth century, the massive demand for meat production in the US has led to the development of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). Research has shown that CAFOs are associated with local environmental degradation and community health disparities; however, there is a limited understanding of their impact on community development. The purpose of our study is to investigate how the population within hog CAFO communities evolved with respect to race, class, education, and income as compared to non-hog CAFO communities in North Carolina (NC). We investigated the changes in demographic, household, and local economic trends associated with varying levels of hog CAFO construction (i.e., area-weighted CAFO count within a 15 km buffer) in counties compared to counties without such facilities during the peak period of hog growth and policy cycles regulating hog farm construction in NC. A higher density of hog CAFOs was constructed in areas with a higher percentage of Black and Hispanic residents and residents of lower socio-economic status (SES) in NC. Findings suggest CAFOs are associated with the displacement of Black residents. In turn, the percent of residents who are White is increasing in hog farming communities, even with increased growth rates in the Hispanic population. Hog CAFO construction is associated with lower wage growth, a tempering in the growth of employment opportunities, and cropland expansion compared to non-hog farming communities. This research aims to provide insight into and better inform the planning and development of CAFOs, so that rural communities can grow healthily and sustainably.