DATE: 3/11/2005

CONTACT: Dr. Todd Davis, (864) 656-5777

WRITER: Tom Lollis, (803) 284-3343, ext. 241

S.C. farmers can expect another good year in 2005

COLUMBIA – South Carolina farmers have had two straight years of agricultural revenues in excess of $1.9 billion, and 2005 should be another good year, according to a Clemson University agricultural economist.

Animal agriculture combined for nearly half the farm income in 2004, in excess of $980 million, said Todd Davis, during the 2005 Ag Outlook Conference, held March 1 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center during Ag Expo.

Field crops added another $442.8 million to the state’s economy and greenhouse and nursery revenues (including some farm raised forest products and other crops) brought in another $330.2 million.

The top 10 commodities were:

* Broilers -- $464.6 million.

* Greenhouse/nursery/floriculture -- $302.4 million.

* Turkeys -- $197.9 million.

* Cattle and calves -- $126.9 million.

* Tobacco -- $109.8 million.

* Cotton (lint and seed) -- $82.9 million.

* Total vegetables -- $80.9 million.

* Soybeans -- $80.1 million.

* Corn -- $69.3 million.

* Eggs -- $59.5 million.

Davis noted that government payments did not make the top 10 list of revenue producers in 2004. Government payments of all types amounted to $51.54 million last year, compared to $129.1 million in 2003.

“It’s always encouraging to see producers getting value from the market, rather than from Uncle Sam,” he said.

Tobacco, traditionally the highest revenue producer among row crops, was again atop the list in 2004, but Davis pointed out that the numbers have been steadily declining. Tobacco income was down by nearly $6 million from 2003 and by about $27 million from the 1998-2002 average.

He said peanuts appear to be the rising star for South Carolina row crops. Since elimination of the quota program, acreage has gone from around 10,000 to more than 30,000 in 2004 and revenues from an average of $6.6 million for 1998-2002 to $23.6 million. Acreage is expected to increase again this year.

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