Remember farmers

Your coverage of the House of Raeford’s decision to eliminate turkey production (“Closing in Raeford to cost 950 jobs,” March 15) failed to reflect the full human impact.

In addition to the 950 plant jobs, the 140 growers who will lose their contracts represent farm families with investments and debts in their farms. The ripple effect will also include the businesses serving those families and farm suppliers.

The use of a protein such as corn to produce a gasoline additive may represent a clever science experiment, but it’s actually social engineering at its worst. When over 40 percent of domestic corn production is used to burn rather than to serve as human nutrition, our folks making national agricultural and energy policy appear to have forgotten that people will ultimately riot over food shortages.

Don’t forget the farmers.

Rep. Jim Fulghum

Raleigh

The writer, a Republican, represents N.C. House District 49.