News

South Carolina Department of Agriculture
Hugh E. Weathers, Commissioner

Media Contact: Stephanie Sox, 803-734-2196, ssox@scda.sc.gov 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 30, 2016

Funding Period for South Carolina Farm Aid Grant Program to Begin July 1

COLUMBIA, S.C. –  Starting Friday, July 1, farmers who suffered crop loss due to last year’s flooding can apply for South Carolina Farm Aid grants from the South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA). The deadline for applying is August 15, 2016.

The S.C. General Assembly approved $40 million in state aid to help farms in flood-ravaged communities. Farmers can receive grants covering 20% of their crop loss up to $100,000.

“The historic flood that hit South Carolina devastated many of the small farms across the rural areas of our state,” said Commissioner Hugh Weathers. “While this won’t make our farmers whole, we hope through this relief funding, they can begin to recover.”

To be eligible for the grant, farmers must have:

• experienced a verifiable loss of affected agricultural commodities of at least 40-percent as a result of the October 2015 flooding,
• a farm located in a USDA flood disaster declared South Carolina county and
• a United Stated Department of Agriculture-Farm Service Agency issued farm number.

Applicants will also be required to sign an affidavit, under penalty of perjury, certifying that loss information is accurate. Acceptable documentation of loss varies based on each crop.

“These funds are critical to our agricultural community,” said Clemson Extension Director Thomas Dobbins. “We will work directly with farmers throughout the application period to ensure this much-needed assistance is put to good use.”

To help farmers apply for assistance this summer, the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service and SCDA will conduct regional educational workshops throughout the state.

The trainings are scheduled for:

• July 1 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Brown’s Bar-B-Que, 809 N. Williamsburg County Hwy. (US 52), Kingstree, SC
• July 5 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at JJ Mitcheom Community Center, 2221 Hemingway Hwy (SC 261), Hemingway, SC
• July 5 from 6 – 8 p.m. at Tommy Lee’s Farm Shed, 13797 Plowden Mill Rd, Alcolu, SC
• July 6 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Bean Market, 111 Henry Street, Lake City, SC
• July 6 from 2 – 4 p.m. at Pee Dee Electric Cooperative, 1355 East McIver Rd, Darlington, SC
• July 6 from 3 – 6 p.m. at Dorchester FSA Office, 5809 W. Jim Bilton Blvd., St. George, SC
• July 6 from 7 – 9 p.m. at Horry Electric Cooperative, 2774 Cultra Rd., Conway, SC
• July 7 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Moree’s River Lodge, 143 Kolb’s Tomb Rd (off US 15/US 401), Society Hill, SC
• July 7 from 6 – 8 p.m. at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, 3250 Saint Matthews Road, Orangeburg, SC
• July 8 from 10 – 12 p.m. at Dillon Wellness Center, 1647 Commerce Drive, Dillon, SC
• July 8 from 2 – 4 p.m. at Agribusiness Career Center – Pelion High School, 600 Lydia Dr., Pelion, SC
• July 11 from 2 – 4 p.m. at State Farmers Market – Phillips Market Center, 3483 Charleston Hwy, W. Columbia, SC
• July 12 from 7 – 9 p.m. at Garden Alley Restaurant, 313 S. Main St., Mullins, SC
• July 13 from 2 – 4 p.m. at SC Farm Bureau, 90 W. Wesmark Blvd, Sumter, SC
• July 14 from 5 – 6:30 p.m. at Clemson Extension FCL Homemakers Building, 634 W. Dekalb Street, Camden, SC
• July 19 from 9 – 11 a.m. at County Line Steak & Seafood Restaurant, 9340 Bamberg Hwy, Brunson, SC
• July 19 from 2 – 4 p.m. at Clemson University’s Edisto Research & Education Center, 64 Research Rd., Blackville, SC
• July 20 from 1 – 5 p.m. at USDA Vegetable Lab, 2700 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC
• July 21 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Sandhill Research and Education Center, 900 Clemson Road, Columbia, SC, G02 meeting room

For additional workshop details and registration information, visit https://agriculture.sc.gov/scfarm-aid/educational-sessions/.

“Agribusiness is South Carolina’s largest industry and a major economic driver in our rural areas,” said Rick Reames, Director of South Carolina Department of Revenue. “These grants will help ensure this industry’s continued strength and generate new growth.”

For complete application instructions and to access the application PDF form, visit https://agriculture.sc.gov/SC-farm-aid/. For more information about Farm Aid or to be put in contact with Farm Aid staff, please call Megan Heidkamp with SCDA at (803) 734-2210.

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Funding Period for South Carolina Farm Aid Grant Program to Begin July 1 Press Release