South Carolina’s agriculture industry is facing challenges as drought conditions intensify across the state, threatening crop production levels.
According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, nearly all of the Palmetto State is experiencing abnormally dry conditions, with more than 40% of communities classified under moderate to severe drought.
Agricultural experts say the lack of substantial rainfall during late summer and early fall is evident in crops such as soybeans, cotton and peanuts.
These crops are among the top ten commodities in the state, with a combined economic impact of nearly $500 million annually.
Soybeans appear to be the hardest hit, with much of the state’s crop entering its critical growth stage just as drought conditions worsened.
According to agricultural experts at Clemson University, soybeans require around two inches of rainfall per week during critical periods like flowering and pod development, and several feet of precipitation over the growing season.
Soybeans have a wide variety of uses, including human and animal consumption, cooking oil production and even components in building materials.
David DeWitt, with Clemson’s Cooperative Extension, said other sectors have been less affected, such as peaches and corn.
“Prices are the farmers’ biggest issue. Even with excellent corn yields, prices make it difficult to break even,” DeWitt said.
Rising costs for fertilizer, seed and fuel, in addition to geopolitical issues, have compounded the strain on growers.
A bright spot has been cattle prices, but what benefits one sector of the economy can challenge another, with beef prices reaching record highs for consumers, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In addition to the emerging drought, some farmers, especially in the Midlands and Upstate, are still contending with damage from Hurricane Helene in 2024.
Helene made landfall along Florida’s Big Bend on Sept. 26, 2024, as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, but its rain and wind extended hundreds of miles through the Carolinas and into the Tennessee Valley.
Damage assessments after the storm placed destruction in South Carolina at between $1 billion and $2 billion, contributing to an overall estimated $78.7 billion in total damage, according to NOAA.
To aid those still recovering, the South Carolina Department of Agriculture recently announced it is distributing $38 million in targeted federal assistance to help cover production losses and infrastructure damage not addressed by crop insurance or other federal programs.
“South Carolina’s farmers and forest landowners have worked tirelessly to recover from Helene’s devastation, and this funding will close crucial gaps to assure a future for their businesses,” South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers said in a statement. “A strong agriculture and forestry sector is essential to our state’s economy and security, and we’re committed to distributing this funding quickly.”
DeWitt said agencies will have a clearer picture of how extreme weather has affected crop yields once harvesting wraps up in December.
Another wildcard that can emerge late in the season is frost or freezing temperatures, though potential damage typically affects crops such as peaches, strawberries and wheat during early spring, when they are most vulnerable.
Growers seeking additional information on Helene-associated grants can visit: agriculture.sc.gov/helene.
