It’s no secret: Farmers are in trouble. And it’s not just farmers. Anyone who has been in a grocery store recently has experienced sticker shock. People are concerned — and rightly so.
Since the start of the Iran war, the cost of producing food and other goods in South Carolina — and around the world — has increased. What that means for consumers is clear: higher prices at the pump, higher prices for goods and higher prices at the grocery store. If that wasn’t enough, it gets worse. Fuel and energy are at the root of all economic activity. Farmers aren’t just struggling to produce food — they’re struggling to keep family farms in operation. Agriculture makes up 51% of South Carolina’s $287 billion GDP — more than half of the state’s economic output.
So what should be done? Anyone can identify problems, but a leader builds solutions. I’ve been an agriculture policy leader for more than a decade, and I’ve seen how both good and bad policy can help or hurt farmers and citizens alike. I spent four years in Washington, D.C., working on the House and Senate agriculture committees, advocating for both groups. Now, I’m home working for you, and here’s my plan:
1. Support farmers now. Legislators in the General Assembly must quickly pass and support a one-time appropriation of funds for farmer relief. Farmers are the backbone of South Carolina. We cannot afford to lose them or their land. I understand the impact personally — my great-great-grandparents lost our family farm in 1929, though my great-grandfather later recovered a portion of it. That is not the case for everyone. Just last year, about 100 South Carolinians lost their farms. It is a matter of safety and security that we can produce our own food, especially when we import roughly 90% of it from outside the state.
2. Ease the burden on consumers. Lawmakers have proposed a pause on South Carolina’s gas tax. The legislature could lower gas prices by up to 28 cents per gallon for as long as 60 days. This would be critical during planting season and the summer, when gas prices are typically highest. Additionally, South Carolina House Democrats have introduced legislation to provide $50 million in farmer relief. Supporting farmers and protecting our No. 1 industry is a strong use of taxpayer dollars.
3. Create an Agriculture Emergency Fund. South Carolina currently has a budget surplus of $1.8 billion. We should set aside a portion of those funds to prepare for future crises. If elected, I will advocate for the creation of an Agriculture Emergency Fund within the South Carolina Department of Agriculture, overseen by the commissioner. This fund would allow the state to respond quickly to economic or environmental emergencies affecting farmers.
Times are challenging, but difficult periods do not last forever. South Carolinians are resilient. During times like these, people look for leadership and support. Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for times of adversity.” As your brother, friend and homegrown candidate for commissioner of agriculture, I hope to earn your support.
DeShawn Blanding
Candidate for S.C. Commissioner of Agriculture