SC Ag Commissioner Hugh Weathers

Hurricane Helene walloped South Carolina last week. What were some of the effects on farms and agribusinesses, Commissioner? Well, we are still taking stock of the effects of this storm. The western part of the state was hit hardest. The strong winds downed trees and knocked out power for close to half the homes and […]

South Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers recently reached a major milestone. Yes, Mike. As of Sept. 14, I have been South Carolina’s Commissioner of Agriculture for 20 years. I was appointed by the governor in 2004. As a department and as an industry, we have accomplished some important things during these 20 years: These did […]

At the South Carolina Advocates for Agriculture Recognition Reception this evening (Wednesday, September 11), we recognized several people, two in particular that you recognized, Commissioner. Tell us about them. “Well, every year we honor a public service individual and then a private industry, and we did the same this year in the public service was […]

South Carolina has a new commodity checkoff program. Let’s hear about it, Commissioner. As our ag-savvy listeners know, checkoff programs promote and provide research and information for a particular agricultural commodity without reference to specific producers or brands.  South Carolina has checkoff programs for beef, cotton, peanut, pork, soybean, tobacco, and watermelon. Conversations about a […]

There’s an under-used tax credit in South Carolina that might benefit your company. Tell us about it, Commissioner. Yes, every fall, we try to get the word out about this tax credit, which is a real tool in our toolbox for growing agriculture in South Carolina. South Carolina offers an income tax credit or withholding […]

Well, this is the time of year we start getting some hard data about how the year is shaping up for the 2024 harvest. How’s it looking, Commissioner? We got the first of the monthly yield forecasts from USDA NASS recently, and it has some interesting information. These yield estimates were based on data collected […]

I joined farmers Travis and Misty Howard in breaking ground on a new beef processing facility near Roebuck, South Carolina, in Spartanburg County. The Howards’ $2.6 million investment is supported by a $600,000 grant from SCDA. Expanding small processing in South Carolina will create more opportunities for small, in-state facilities to serve the state’s farmers […]

 Lowcountry Oyster Company is expanding its operations with the construction of a $6.4 million seafood processing and cross-dock facility in Green Pond, South Carolina. The Colleton County facility is projected to create 30 new jobs. With a state-of-the-art chilled water wet storage system and climate-controlled processing and holding areas, including over 10,000 square feet of refrigerated […]

Tropical Storm Debby has now made its way out of the Carolinas and moved on. But what kind of impact did we see from that? I’m talking now with South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers. Commissioner, what did you see across South Carolina in the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby? “Well, it was as […]

Hurricane Debby is heading for SC. What’s the report on the ground, Commissioner? Yes, farmers are keeping an eye on weather reports as Debby approaches. By the time this episode airs, it should be affecting our state. What makes this storm unusual is the large amount of rain it’s forecast to bring, particularly to the […]