Question 1

What steps will you take to attract and support agribusiness investment in South Carolina?

Accepted Answer

I think this is one of the places where we are currently falling short of our potential. Much of establishing markets is based on educating buyers of availability to meet their needs . For instance, as a farmer in 2017, I took a trip to Canada to meet with a cucumber buyer to educate them on the resources that we have here in South Carolina: land, crops, and people to meet their needs of quality cucumbers to make pickles. I returned home with a 500 acre contract which has now expanded to multiple contracts with nearly 3,000 acres a year being planted in our state each year, a $5 million yearly purchase of South Carolina cucumbers. This type of result is what I expect to continue providing as South Carolina commissioner of agriculture.

Question 2

What role should agriculture play in South Carolina’s broader, economic growth strategy?

Accepted Answer

Agriculture should be at the heart of any growth strategy for our state. When local farms prosper, so do local communities and it spreads throughout the state. The more local businesses and individuals buy from local farms the better the margin for the farms through decreased waste, allowing local farms to continue to provide the highest quality items at the best prices, all while providing food safety and security through decreased reliance on outside sources.

Question 3

How will you assist farmers in recovering from natural disasters?

Accepted Answer

Similarly to my involvement in relief efforts in 2015 and 16 following the great flood, as SC Commissioner of Agriculture, I will be a voice in Columbia, as well as Washington D.C., to help educate our lawmakers of what our farmers and agribusiness are facing with regards to weather events and identifying things that can be done to help recovery efforts, so local farms and businesses can continue to be successful.

Question 4

How do you plan to respond to food shortages, supply chain disruptions, or price spikes?

Accepted Answer

Our greatest defense to food shortages or supply chain issues is a vibrant local food system. Our unnecessary willingness to be reliant on food from outside of our state or even our country puts us all that at risk, when we have the ability to grow and produce almost everything we need here in the state, if we will just provide support through programs like block grants, and other means to help them get established.

Question 5

How will you address land loss and urban sprawl that threatens farmland?

Accepted Answer

One of South Carolina agriculture’s greatest assets other than its people is the land. From the eastern beaches to the north western mountains and everywhere in between lies fields and farms, some of the best dirt and best people around, with only a goal of earning an honest living doing what they love; raising plants and animals for food, fuel, feed and fun. We must protect this land and this people. My aim as commissioner will be to help find more support for funding like land trusts to keep those working farms in forever ag.

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