Pat McCrory and Bev Perdue

Democratic Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue and Republican Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory addressed the crowd separately, touching on issues of labor, drought and even off-shore drilling.

Gwenn Pitt, an Edgecombe County farmer, said the drought is causing problems for farms across the state.

"It's not as bad as last year, but we're still struggling because of the drought," Pitt said. "We could still use the rain."

The two candidates for governor tried to gain the support of state farmers Thursday afternoon as part of the N.C. Farm Bureau's Policy Review Day.

And that last point is one issue the two candidates addressed specifically.

McCrory he said part of the solution is conservation, nuclear power and clean coal.

"I think there are solutions that involve the creation of new energy products, new energy platforms for the world," Perdue said. "We have to do what we need to do to conserve and to go greener."

Perdue wants to focus on biotech industries. She hopes farmers' crops will eventually fuel your car.

"If there's a way to do it with efficient and cost effective procedures, we ought to do it in North Carolina, because agriculture's been the bedrock of this state," Perdue said.

McCrory also likes biotech opportunities, but he also wants the country and state to start drilling for oil and natural gas off the coast. Perdue opposes the idea.

"Both today and in the next ten years it will have a tremendous benefit impact on the economy and the price of gas and natural gas for not just this generation, but for future generations," McCrory said. "Why are we waiting?"

Pitt won't say who she supports, but she hopes whoever wins will look out for farmers in the years ahead.

Both candidates will debate four times before the November election -- once in August, twice in September, and one last time on Oct. 15.