After two decades of raising broiler chickens under contract for one of the largest poultry companies in the U.S., North Carolina farmer Tom Lim reached a breaking point. Burdened by debt, outdated equipment, and dwindling returns, Lim found himself pushed out of the industry when his contract was abruptly terminated. Like many small-scale contract farmers, he had invested heavily in infrastructure only to be left with no support once the company moved on.
Determined to stay on the land he loved, Lim began exploring alternatives to industrial animal agriculture. He connected with Mercy for Animals' Transfarmation Project, which helps former livestock farmers transition to plant-based operations. The project offered Lim financial support and technical guidance to repurpose his defunct chicken barns into productive growing spaces for crops.
Lim's transformation began with a 28-acre farm and four empty chicken barns. Today, one of those barns houses a state-of-the-art greenhouse designed by Virginia Tech horticulturists. The facility features hydroponic systems, raised beds, and efficient irrigation tailored for specialty crops like leafy greens, herbs, and vine vegetables. He also cultivates high-value mushrooms, grown in a retrofitted shipping container on-site.
Lim's journey is part of a broader shift among Southern farmers rethinking food production in the face of rising costs, ethical concerns, and market instability. While the transition has not been easy, finding buyers and turning a profit remain major hurdles, it represents a hopeful step toward a more sustainable and self-directed future in agriculture.
Read more at The Bitter Southerner