Skip to main content

News

Farmers Encouraged to Report Drought Conditions

South Carolina Department of Agriculture
Hugh E. Weathers, Commissioner

Media Contacts: Katherine Helms, 803-734-5229, khelms@scda.sc.gov; and Eva Moore, 803-734-2196, emoore@scda.sc.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 29, 2019

Farmers Encouraged to Report Drought Conditions

COLUMBIA – South Carolina is making it easy for farmers to share information on drought across the state.

Through a collaboration with the National Drought Mitigation Center, the South Carolina Department of Agriculture and other agencies are offering a tool for farmers to regularly report moisture levels, drought or flooding, crop conditions, and even to upload photos.

“Farmers are on the front lines when it comes to drought, and we hope this tool will help South Carolina’s agricultural community more easily report the conditions affecting their crops and livestock,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers.

To report information, farmers and other community members can either visit bit.ly/droughtreport19 or email drought@scda.sc.gov. Submitters can report their contact information and GPS coordinates, or choose to remain anonymous. Frequent reporting is encouraged, as it helps provide trend data.

Researchers and regulators who monitor drought need data to accurately assess each county’s drought status. The U.S. Drought Monitor map, updated weekly, uses input from the South Carolina Department of Agriculture and other agencies to assess drought conditions and trigger various drought responses. Reporting of drought conditions also improves the targeting of federal disaster relief aid to farmers in affected areas.

About the South Carolina Department of Agriculture:
Agribusiness is South Carolina’s largest industry, with more than 24,000 farms and a $41.7 billion economic impact each year. The SC Department of Agriculture promotes and nurtures South Carolina agriculture and its related businesses while assuring the safety and security of the buying public.

###

Farmers Encouraged to Report Drought Press Release (pdf)

US Drought Monitor Flyer

  • Posted in
  • Press Releases