Agency Structure | South Carolina Department of Agriculture

Agency Operations

The Agency Operations Division consists of the Office of the Commissioner, Administration, Human Resources, Information Technology, State Farmers Markets, and Grants Administration. These areas work to ensure that people, equipment, and infrastructure are available and positioned across the state to keep the agency mission ready. Agency Operations supports agency programs and services, promotes employee engagement, and encourages excellent customer service. This division also facilitates constituent services and oversees special projects at the direction of the Commissioner.

Current Invitations to Bid or Requests for Proposals

Fees & Fines Report – Fiscal Year 2024

View the FY24-25 Agency Accountability Report here. See reports from prior years here.

View the Earmarked Appropriations

Consumer Protection

SCDA restructured and reorganized the regulatory departments into the Consumer Protection Division (CPD), which is comprised of six (6) main departments: Laboratory Services (including Metrology Laboratory), Consumer Services, Animal Feed Safety, Wholesale Food Safety (including Milk Safety), Federal-State Inspection Services (including Produce Safety and Hemp Farming Program), and Retail Food Safety.

There is a unified effort by these program areas to fulfill and comply with their legislated and service driven charge, and each unit is dependent on the other to complete tasks as required by state/federal law and regulation.

External Affairs & Economic Development

The External Affairs and Economic Development Division serves the agricultural industry to promote and advocate for the growth of existing and new agribusiness opportunities throughout the state. This is done by working with elected officials and business/state leaders at all levels to push for an efficient policy and economic development environment.

The External Affairs Department of the South Carolina Department of Agriculture consists of a team that specialize in advocating for agricultural issues at the federal, state and local levels. As the lead advocate for the state’s agricultural industry, it is their goal to listen to all interested parties (no matter what the agricultural issue) and advance pro-agricultural legislation, regulations and funding, that allow continual growth for South Carolina agriculture.

The team puts together communications, on a daily basis, with members of the South Carolina congressional delegation, South Carolina General Assembly, and many federal and state agencies to protect our vast industry.

Much of the work goes into education and actively monitoring agricultural policies, whether through the state budget or freestanding legislation.

Additionally under this division, legal services are housed. They are responsible for reviewing and recommending legal advice and/or solutions to various issues and obstacles.

Helpful Links:

Legal

The Legal Division handles all legal matters for the agency.