South Carolina Department of Agriculture

We had a great weekend at the International Fresh Produce Association Global Produce and Floral Show! SCDA is so proud to show the world what South Carolina Farmers have to offer!

Helene brought heavy rain and winds to many parts of South Carolina. We hope everyone stays safe and well during the recovery effort. Here are some emergency planning and recovery resources for South Carolina farms, Retail Food Establishments, food and feed manufacturers, and other agribusinesses: https://lnkd.in/evp2Aqp2

As harvest season ramps up in South Carolina, you may encounter more heavy equipment on the roads. With roughly 25,000 farms in our state, it's as important as ever to share the road and ensure everyone gets home safely. Remember these 3 tips when you see agricultural equipment on the road. SLOW DOWN. If you see the slow-moving vehicle emblem, slow your vehicle in plenty of time - the equipment may be moving at 25 mph or less. STAY BACK. Make sure the driver can see you behind them. PASS WITH CARE. Wait until it's safe to pass, and do so cautiously as equipment may be extra-wide

Are you traveling this Labor Day weekend? From your tailgate to your gas tank, know that our Consumer Protection Division works hard daily to ensure you get what you pay for.

Rural Small Business us a unique class of business. When it comes to funding, rural small businesses have opportunities that may not be found in other areas. This webinar will review funding with SBA, SSBCI, and USDA programs. Grant opportunities will also be covered in addition to a grant process overview. Register today at https://lnkd.in/evk74NvK

Buying local could pay off for your business at tax time! South Carolina provides a possible income tax credit or withholding tax credit to agribusinesses or agricultural packaging operations that increase their purchases of products grown in SC. Time is running out for 2024 - for more information, please visit scagribusiness.com. Applications due September 30th.?

In July, seven SCDA employees participated in a radiological disaster response exercise hosted by the US Department of Homeland Security and Sandia National Laboratories. The tabletop exercise, held jointly with Georgia, explored how our states’ food and agriculture regulators would respond to the release of radiation from a nuclear power plant. Although the chances of such an incident are extremely minimal, it’s important to be prepared: South Carolina has six nuclear facilities within or just outside its borders.?

We know many of you are keeping an eye on Debby, which is projected to bring heavy rain to many parts of South Carolina this week. Here are some emergency planning and recovery resources for South Carolina farms, Retail Food Establishments, food and feed manufacturers, and other agribusinesses. https://lnkd.in/evp2Aqp2

Through trade missions, NASDA is helping promote exports of U.S. agricultural products to developing countries with strong growth potential. By visiting with federal, public and private entities in different countries and facilitating reverse trade missions to the U.S., NASDA is working to build relationships and further opportunities to advance agriculture worldwide. Watch the video to hear about our trade mission to Morocco in January and visit our website to learn more about NASDA’s trade missions: https://lnkd.in/gV6uG4Mp

Attention Farmers Market Managers! In an effort to assure the continued safety of livestock, pets, and companion animals in South Carolina, we are reaching out to farmers markets across the state to ensure that all vendors wishing to sell livestock and pet food products obtain the proper registration for each product before selling to the general public. To make sure that all commercial animal feed products sold at farmers markets are registered with SCDA prior to the sale of the product(s), we ask for your collaboration in conveying this information to your vendors. The registration application, along with a list of frequently asked questions, is available here: https://lnkd.in/eY4xw6RM