DATE:     2/20/04
CONTACT:  Dr. Todd Davis, (864) 656-3506; tddavis@clemson.edu
WRITER:   Tom Lollis, (803) 284-3343, ext. 241; tlollis@clemson.edu

S.C. ag and forestry contribute
more than $5 billion to economy

     COLUMBIA -- Agriculture and forestry gave more than a $5
billion boost to the South Carolina economy in 2003, according
to a Clemson University agricultural economist.
     "The value of South Carolina agriculture is more than
just what happens at the farm level," said Todd Davis, during
the 2004 S. C. Ag Outlook Conference, held at the Sheraton
Hotel and Conference Center in Columbia during Ag Expo Feb.
10.
     "A conservative estimate is that every dollar generated
in farm revenue generates another dollar somewhere else in the
state's economy," he said. Davis noted that the value of
production of all commodities was $1.88 billion last year, up
about $300 million from 2002 and about $170 million over the
five-year average from 1997 to 2001.
     "That would mean an impact of $3.76 billion. Add another
$1.5 billion for forest products and the total contribution to
the state's economy exceeds $5.26 billion for agriculture and
forestry," said Davis.
     The top 10 revenue producers on South Carolina farms
were:
*   Broilers -- $392.9 million.
*   Greenhouse, nursery and floriculture -- $291.3 
    million.
*   Turkeys -- $159.4 million.
*   Cattle and calves -- $145.3 million.
*   Cotton lint and seed -- $123.6 million.
*   Tobacco -- $114.7 million.
*   Vegetables -- $88.9 million.
*   Soybeans -- $85.3 million.
*   Hay -- $78.9 million.
*   Government payments -- $71.5 million.
     Other speakers said they expect continued strong prices
in 2004 for wheat, corn, soybeans, cotton and cattle. 
     Corn and wheat yield contest winners were also
recognized at Ag Expo. Chris Cogdill accepted a plaque for
L&S Farms of Clarendon County as the state's champion wheat
producer with an average of 86.4 bushels an acre with the
variety Pioneer 2684.
     Two other wheat producers from Clarendon County also
produced yields of more than 80 bushels an acre using the
same variety - Troy Allan (83.6 bushels per acre) and Cag
Brunson (80.5 bushels per acre).
    The top corn producer was Don Brunson of Clarendon
County, who harvested 242.7 bushels an acre of nonirrigated
P32D99. The state's top irrigated producer was C. W. Backman
of Orangeburg County, who averaged 207.6 bushels an acre with
the same variety.
                              END