Cindy Sallis, former candidate for Duplin County Commissioner, District 1

03/29/2026

Small processors keep rural America running.

For nearly 30 years, USDA has used outdated definitions that don’t always reflect how these businesses actually operate. We’re fixing that.

USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service is asking for direct input to make sure our policies work for small and independent processors, not against them. Farmers first. ➡️ https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/03/24/2026-05746/revising-establishment-size-definitions

10/21/2025

"USDA Secretary Rollins has acknowledged she and the administration are aware critical emergency farm aid are currently being held up by the government shutdown. Speaking with Fox News, Rollins noted USDA’s readiness to issue the promised aid saying, “As soon as the shutdown lifts, we’ll be ready to roll something out.” Meanwhile, roughly 42,000 USDA staff members are furloughed including FSA and NRCS staffers. Rollins remarked it is currently difficult to grasp the full impact of the shutdown on farm country saying, “We’re not even entirely sure what the damage is yet, so it’s hard to craft.”

Meanwhile, reports have surfaced that Senate Majority Leader John Thune is quietly pressing administration officials to let farmers continue to access Marketing Assistance Loans, which help meet cash flow needs during harvest season and as planting decisions for next year loom. Thus far, administration officials say they have no plans to shift other money around for the agriculture loans like they’ve done with troop pay and other priorities.

U.S. senators failed for the 10th time to resolve the U.S. government shutdown in votes last Thursday. The shutdown is now the third-longest funding lapse in modern history."

Speaking with Fox News, Rollins noted USDA’s readiness to issue the promised aid.

09/05/2025

The online Agricultural Taxation Issues Workshop, offered on October 24, 2025, will address agricultural and natural resource tax issues, including new law changes as they affect agriculture. Learn more and register at go.ncsu.edu/tax.

08/29/2025

08/12/2025

What a way to start the week. Our family received our higher property tax bill, like so many families across our county. I'm so sorry to see the property tax bills shoot up so high when so many struggle to afford groceries.

The revenue neutral tax rate was $0.5667. The Commissioners were legally allowed to choose to go with the revenue neutral tax rate.

The adopted property tax rate is now $0.58.

The previous property tax rate was $0.735. A tax rate drop does not equate lowering our taxes, obviously, when the reappraised value is sky high coupled with the choice to exceed a revenue neutral rate.

"North Carolina General Statutes require that all NC counties reappraise real properties at least once every eight years. The statues also provide that counties may revalue on a more frequent basis upon adoption of a resolution by the County Board of Commissioners. The Duplin County Board of Commissioners voted to affirm 2025 as their next revaluation and then proceed to a 5-year cycle thereafter." Source: https://www.duplinnc.gov/479/2025-Property-Tax-Revaluation

The Commissioners are choosing to reappraise again in FIVE years when they could have went with EIGHT. That is notable also.

Lastly, the appeal process ended April 30, 2025, a little more than three months BEFORE we saw these property bills.

07/04/2025

Thinking this might not be a great idea for our nation’s ranchers. What’s the rush? Your thoughts? I would hate to see our ranchers across our nation have to cope with the New World Screwworm (NWS).

“While the Douglas, AZ port presents the lowest risk based upon the geography of Sonora and a long history of effective collaboration between APHIS and Sonora on animal health issues, USDA intends to reopen additional ports in New Mexico, and if it is proven safe to do so, in Texas, over the coming weeks. Additional port openings will be based on APHIS’ continuous reevaluation of the number of cases and potential northward movement of NWS, Mexico’s continued efforts to curb illegal animal movements, and implementation of further rigorous inspection and treatment protocols.

Port Reopening Timeline *After each reopening USDA will evaluate to ensure no adverse effects arise*

Douglas, AZ – July 7
Columbus, NM – July 14
Santa Teresa, NM – July 21
Del Rio, TX – August 18
Laredo, TX – September 15”

https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/06/30/usda-announces-phased-reopening-southern-ports-livestock-trade?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwLUuZtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHgggbNxrmbgifRrEZige0INZtMeB9BQdLqBU0t50YtEXGtuQfG10F4ClYAc-_aem_Tl0PrkGJoHZP5fIOhhAvJQ

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05/14/2025

🚨 TODAY 5/14/25🚨

Come Voice Support for our 🐄 🥛 Farmers and show your support by wearing 💚GREEN 💚!  

The Senate Committee on Rules and
Operations of the Senate will address SB 639 North Carolina Farm Act of 2025 TODAY at 12:30 pm in 1027/1128 LB.

Hear if they continue on the path of potentially putting a slew of microdairies out of business
across our state by attempting to strike raw pet milk from current law.

Pet milk is essential to animal rehabbers, animal rescues, pet owners that use a raw diet, and at times is the SINGLE ONLY food an animal can handle that is at their end of life
or having significant digestive issues.

Come in Person to the legislative building room 1027/1128 if you can OR LISTEN LIVE HERE at 12:30pm today:

https://www.ncleg.gov/LegislativeCalendarEvent/133689

Parking info for the North Carolina General Assembly, Legislative Building at 16 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27601 can be found here:
https://www.ncleg.gov/About/VisitorInfo

05/06/2025

Update on Raw Milk: Raw Milk labeled Not For Human Consumption Still BANNED in the proposed Bill.

I listened in on the hearing today re the Farm Act of 2025 / SB639.

The language to BAN herd shares related to raw milk was thankfully removed through an Amendment. I'm so glad so many took the time to make calls, email, and show up at the hearing.

*****Although the herd shares were protected with an Amendment, an Amendment was approved that BANNED raw milk for pets (no longer can be sold labeled not for human consumption!).***** This is a critical revenue stream that will hurt many small farms across the state.

Make that one make sense. SMH

The Senate Finance Committee has SB639 on the Agenda tomorrow Wednesday May 7th at 1PM in Room 544LOB.

The sponsors are:
Senator Brent Jackson (919) 733-5705
Senator Norm Sanderson (919) 733-5706
Senator Lisa Barnes (919) 715-3030

and

the NC Commissioner of Agriculture is Steve Troxler: (919) 707-3000, [email protected]

The Senate Finance Committee Members to also contact can be found here (and I'm including their emails below): https://www.ncleg.gov/Committees/CommitteeInfo/SenateStanding/138

Bill language with the amendments that occurred today can be found here: https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S639 Look for Section 20.

After crossover this week, the fight will go to the NC House unless the Senate Finance Committee removes the language banning raw pet milk. We lost ground.

Thank you to EVERYONE that called and wrote and showed up to protect our farmers and their right to sell herd shares and raw milk. The fight isn't over sadly.

Here are the email addresses of the North Carolina Senate Finance Committee:

[email protected], [email protected],
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],[email protected], [email protected]

05/05/2025

YOU can advocate for your local farmer. Their right to sell herd shares/raw milk is under attack.

HOW?

1) CALL and EMAIL YOUR NC Legislators. Here is an easy way to contact them: https://standforhealthfreedom.com/actions/sb639-2/

2) CALL and EMAIL our NC Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler at (919) 707-3000 and [email protected]

3) ATTEND the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, (Location: 544 LOB), TOMORROW Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 11 a.m. EST in support of keeping herd shares legal. Arrive a bit early if you want to sign up to speak. Visitor Info/Maps can be found here: https://www.ncleg.gov/About/VisitorInfo

4) Sign the Petition: https://www.change.org/p/safeguard-herd-share-agreements-in-north-carolina?source_location=search

ASK THEM TO:

1) OPPOSE the language in the FARM BILL that would outlaw raw milk/herd shares.

2) Support HOUSE BILL 609: Option for Raw Milk Consumption and fully legalize raw milk, like neighboring South Carolina.

THE PROBLEM:

1) Introduced language in the Farm Bill (S639) would take away the right to sell raw milk for human consumption. This NC Farm Act of 2025 can be found here and scroll to page 13:https://www.ncleg.gov/.../2025/Bills/Senate/PDF/S639v2.pdf

This Farm Bill attempts to REMOVE the following language: “This labeling requirement does not apply to raw milk or raw milk products dispensed for personal use or consumption to the independent or partial owner of a cow, goat, or other lactating animal.”

2) Also, here is HB 609: Option for Raw Milk Consumption we need PASSED: https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H609

Find your Legislators here: https://www.ncleg.gov/findyourlegislators

Small generational family farms across our state have invested in equipment to sell cow and goat shares to their local communities. A multitude of families rely on this resource, which is especially important to those that have special dietary needs and health struggles. This income is vital to our small farmers.

You can watch the livestream of the hearing here: https://www.ncleg.gov/LegislativeCalendarEvent/133635

Our Farm Bill should SUPPORT our family farms, not harm them.
THANK YOU!!



https://standforhealthfreedom.com/actions/sb639-2/

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05/05/2025

Read this added language!! Do you want unbridled development or our local government to be able to use common sense? This potentially ties the hands of our local government.

"Except as provided by local act, notwithstanding any other provision of law, a local government may not exercise development regulation authority except as expressly authorized by this Chapter. If State law governs a particular subject matter related to a local development regulation authority, a local government shall not enact or enforce development regulations more restrictive than those established by State law, unless the development regulation pertains to floodplain management regulations as described in G.S. 143-138(e).""

04/02/2025

After getting our reappraisal today, ouch. Reminded me of one of the reasons I ran for County Commissioner…. 🤷‍♀️ 😔. Hoping our current Commissioners lower our tax rate so families don’t struggle more than they already are.

“While a county must calculate and publish the RNTR, it is not required to adopt the RNTR as the actual tax rate for the coming fiscal year. If the county chooses not to adopt the RNTR for the coming year, taxpayers can compare the adopted rate to the RNTR to determine if the county has increased or decreased its total tax levy for the coming year.

If the county adopts a new property tax rate that is greater than the RNTR, then the county has increased its total tax levy for the coming fiscal year–even if the adopted rate is less than this year’s tax rate. Conversely, if the county adopts a new tax rate that is less than the RNTR, then the county has decreased its total tax levy–even if the adopted rate is greater than this year’s tax rate.”

https://canons.sog.unc.edu/2024/04/how-do-counties-respond-to-revenue-neutral-tax-rates/