Palmetto State News

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Governor Henry McMaster was accompanied today by S.C. Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers, members of the General Assembly, and other state and local leaders for a ceremonial bill signing of H. 3951, also known as the Working Agricultural Lands Preservation Act. The legislation introduces the Working Farmland Protection Fund, which will assist landowners in preserving working agricultural lands through voluntary conservation easements.

"Farmers are the backbone of our state, and as more businesses and people move here, we must find innovative ways to protect our state's most valuable farmlands,” stated Governor Henry McMaster. “This legislation provides farmers a cost-effective option to keep and pass down their families' farms while ensuring that our state's agriculture industry remains strong and our most precious natural resources aren't lost forever to overdevelopment."

The fund is managed by the S.C. Conservation Bank and is designed to complement agricultural projects funded by the Conservation Bank by creating a matching grant payment for qualified projects. Grant applications must meet specific evaluation criteria including but not limited to: the value of the land's natural resources, the economic viability of the property in terms of current and future commercial agricultural activities, and the threat of non-agriculture-related development. Moreover, at least 50% of the landowner's income must come from eligible farmland.

The legislation also broadens the membership of the existing Conservation Bank board to include positions for the Commissioner of Agriculture, Secretary of Commerce, and Secretary of Transportation.

“I’m pleased to join South Carolina leaders in giving farmers options for preserving their working lands," commented Commissioner Weathers. "This important new legislation helps us continue to feed people and fuel our economy while protecting our state’s agricultural past, present, and future.”

The bipartisan bill passed with overwhelming support in both chambers: 100-7 in the House and 46-0 in Senate.