SC governor signs bill aimed to help farmers continue generations of growing

HOPKINS, SC (WOLO) — Agribusiness brings in around $50 billion a year to the Palmetto State.

“We’re trying to open those doors as wide as we can. Come here, use our products and add more value to our state,” said Hugh Weathers, South Carolina commissioner of agriculture. 

However, studies have shown that South Carolina has lost more than 300,000 acres of farmland in recent decades.

“We are constantly looking for ways to keep land in its natural state and keep our state looking beautiful,” said Curtis Spencer with the South Carolina Conservation Bank. “That’s why everybody wants to come here and that’s part of the problem. We have to develop but in a smart way.”

In just 15 years, Lexington County lost almost 30,000 acres of farmland.

Here in Richland County, one family farm turned down a large sum of money from developers.

“I decided not to sell out to the developers,” said Joy Cottle, owner of Cottle Farm. “Instead, I chose to invest over $1.2 million into our community.”

While Cottle Farm in Hopkins is still running, Representative Patrick Haddon from Greenville knows that many others are giving up on the generational practice.

“I’m a 7th generation farmer,” Rep. Haddon said. “We have got to keep our farms sustainable. We have to keep those properties intact with those families. This bill is going to do that.”

Tuesday morning, Governor Henry McMaster signed the Working Agricultural Lands Preservation Act which aims to keep family farms running profitably through a conservation easement. 

“The conservation easement gives them an option to take some of the equity of the development value and plow it back into the farm,” Weathers said. “A lot of great things are in this bill.”

Landowners who obtain at least half of their income from farmland are eligible. 

“It’s a great way to remind people with this bill that food doesn’t come from the grocery storem” Weathers said. “It’s a long chain but it all starts with growing something.”

“We’re all in favor of saving agriculture in South Carolina for the next generation,” said Rep. Randy Ligon, a Republican from Rock Hill.

The bill passed 100 to 7 in the House and unanimously in the Senate.