A recent landmark agreement signed between Simthfields Food Inc and North Carolina attorney general on July 25, 2000 is aimed at eliminating swine waste lagoons and sprayfields. North Carolina State University (NCSU) will head up the development of lagoon alternatives. Under the agrrement Smithfield and all subsidiaries will contribute $15 million to NCSU for the development of new waste management strategies. The agreement calls for the university to develop alternative environmentally sound manure management strategies within two years. At that time, Smithfields will have 3 years to implement the new management techniques.