STATE OFFICES FOR NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Organizations
Cooperative Extension System Offices
https://www.nifa.usda.gov/about-nifa/how-we-work/extension/cooperative-extension-system
Extension 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-2201
202-720-4423
The Cooperative Extension System is a nationwide, non-credit educational network. Each US state has a state office at its land-grant university and a network of local or regional offices. You can find Cooperative Extension offices in your state at the website.
South Carolina Department of Agriculture
1200 Senate Street, Columbia, SC 29211
803-734-2210 (fax) 803-734-2192
The South Carolina Department of Agriculture promotes and nurtures the growth and development of South Carolina’s agriculture industry and its related businesses while assuring the buying public of safety and security. The Small Farms Program provides assistance to small family farmers with an emphasis on dissemination of information, referrals, and counseling on issues such as: land retention, alternative land use, and community development. The focus of the Small Farms Program is to assist small farmers in understanding the challenges associated with retail marketing and in helping them to find solutions to their specific problems.
South Carolina Farm Bureau
Mailing Address: PO Box 754, Columbia, SC 29202
Physical Address: 724 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce, SC 29033
803-936-4383
SC Farm Bureau is a family-oriented federation of 47 county chapters - an active organization led by volunteer grassroots farmer members. Their mission is to promote agricultural interests in the State of South Carolina and to optimize the lives of those involved in agriculture while being respectful to the needs and concerns of all South Carolina citizens. The Young Farmer & Rancher Program provides members with an opportunity to hone their skills to prepare them for leadership roles with Farm Bureau and other organizations. SCFB sponsors an annual Young Farmer & Rancher Leadership Conference. Farmer members between the ages of 18 and 35 are encouraged to join the Young Farmer & Rancher program by contacting their county Farm Bureau.
SC Small Business Development Centers
Orangeburg Area SBDC: South Carolina State University Algernon S. Belcher Hall 300 College Street, Campus Box 7176 Orangeburg, SC 29117
803.536.8445
Contact: scstatesbdc@scsu.edu
Charleston Area SBDC: The Citadel 256A Bond Hall 171 Moultrie Street Charleston, SC 29409 843.953.7220
SCSBDC helps to advance SC's economic development by helping entrepreneurs grow successful businesses.
TIP Net (Transition Incentives Program), Farm Service Agency
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-0506
Contact: oip@ftc.usda.gov
FSA has developed this website to provide a tool to connect retired or retiring land owners or operators with beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers who are interested in the Transition Incentives Program. Retired or retiring owners or operators with expiring Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts can receive up to two additional annual rental payments if they sell or lease the CRP land to beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers who are interested in bringing the land into production using sustainable grazing or crop production methods, including transitioning to organic.
USDA Economic Research Service (ERS)
1800 M Street NW Suite 4051S, Washington, DC 20036
202-694-5541 (fax) 202-694-5775
The ERS mission is to inform and enhance public and private decision making on economic and policy issues related to agriculture, food, the environment, and rural development. ERS staff disseminates economic information and research results through reports, economic briefs, data products, a magazine, the website, oral briefings, staff analyses, congressionally mandated studies, and journal articles.
USDA Farm Service Agency - South Carolina
1927 Thurmond Mall Suite 100, Columbia, SC 29201
803-806-3830 (fax) 855-573-9305
This agency makes and guarantees loans and provides credit counseling to farmers and ranchers. For more information contact your local FSA office.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) - South Carolina
Strom Thurmond Federal Building 1835 Assembly Street Room 950, Columba, SC 29201
803-253-3935 (fax) 803-253-3670
The primary federal agency working to protect natural resources on private lands. NRCS offers technical and financial assistance to farmers for conservation planning and practices suited to their land and operation.
USDA/NIFA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/beginning-farmer-rancher-development-program-bfrdp
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington DC 20250-2201
202-720-4423
The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program is an education, training, technical assistance and outreach program designed to help US farmers and ranchers - specifically those who have been farming or ranching for 10 years or less. NIFA will make grants available to organizations to design programs to help beginning farmers and ranchers. Project results are expected to be disseminated widely to all farmers.
USDA Office of Advocacy and Outreach (USDA/OAO)
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington DC 20250
800-880-4183
Contact: oasdfr@usda.gov or advocacyandoutreach@osec.usda.gov
The USDA OAO was established to improve access to USDA programs and enhance the viability and profitability of small farms and ranches, and beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. The Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Competitive Grants Program (OASDFR) provides funds to organizations to conduct outreach and technical assistance to encourage and assist socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to own and operate farms and ranches and to participate in agricultural programs.
USDA/Risk Management Agency Crop Insurance Programs - Valdosta, GA Regional Office
http://www.rma.usda.gov/aboutrma/fields/ga_rso/
106 South Patterson Street Suite 250, Valdosta, GA 31601-5673
229-242-7235 (fax) 229-242-3566
202-690-2803
RMA, through FCIC, provides crop insurance to American farmers and ranchers. Private sector insurance companies sell and service the policies. RMA develops and/or approves the premium rate, administers premium and expense subsidies, approves and supports products, and reinsures the companies. RMA also sponsors educational and outreach programs and seminars on the general topic of risk management.
USDA Rural Development - South Carolina
1835 Assembly Street, Suite 1007, Columbia, SC 29201
803-765-5163 (fax) 765-5633
USDA Rural Development achieves its mission by helping rural individuals, communities, and businesses obtain the financial and technical assistance needed to address their diverse and unique needs.