Commissioner Weathers To Survey Crop Damage in the Wake of Tropical Depression Florence
South Carolina Department of Agriculture
Hugh E. Weathers, Commissioner
Media Contacts: Sally McKay; 803-734-2196; smckay@scda.sc.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 16, 2018
Commissioner Weathers To Survey Crop Damage in the Wake of Tropical Depression Florence
COLUMBIA, SC – South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers on Tuesday, September 18 will join farmers and members of the state’s congressional delegation on a helicopter tour to survey crop damage throughout the state due to Tropical Depression Florence.
The tour is expected to concentrate on Dillon, Florence, Georgetown, Horry and Williamsburg counties, where cotton and soybean crops – abundant in those areas – were most at risk for wind damage from the storm.
“Timing is everything with a storm like Florence, and the timing was particularly bad for our cotton farmers, who are telling us their crops took a hit from the high winds,” said Commissioner Weathers. “Because soybeans are a month or two from harvest, they may incur less damage. We’ll know more when official assessments take place this week.”
The South Carolina Department of Agriculture continues to communicate with farmers throughout the state to obtain first-person accounts of Florence’s impact. Flooding, power outages, and other storm-related consequences may continue to affect not only cotton and soybean crops, but also specialty crops and industrial hemp.
“South Carolina farmers are resilient, and unfortunately they’ve had a lot of experience with devastating weather over the last several years,” said Commissioner Weathers. “Our prayers are with these hardworking men and women, and the Department of Agriculture will do everything possible to assist them in the aftermath of Florence.”
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Commissioner Weathers To Survey Crop Damage in the Wake of Tropical Depression Florence