The Farm Service Agency is the place for farmers, ranchers, and all in the rural community. The leadership provided by the local farming community on our County Committees makes FSA unique in the level of community involvement in the FSA programs. In addition, we appreciate the relationship we have built with the local communities over our several decades of service. Those relationships make FSA a better public servant.
We are in between Administrations, and so our new State Director has not yet been appointed. Hopefully that new person will be in place soon, but until they are please allow us as the career employees to help you with the service that our leadership has already authorized. Please contact your local FSA Office or you may contact the South Carolina State FSA office at:
1927 Thurmond Mall, Suite 100 Columbia, SC 20201-2375 Telephone: (803) 806-3830 Facsimile: (803) 806-3839
If you have any suggestions or comments on the website, please let us know.
Perry L. Thompson Acting State Executive Director
CRP ? It?s All abut the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees??
Through the Conservation Reserve Program, USDA is serious about restoring and enhancing habitat for wildlife and protecting permanent water bodies while providing clean well water for livestock.
Practices available now are: - Restoration of longleaf pine plantations that provide habitat for numerous species of plants and animals. Land must have 4 out of 6 year cropping history in years 1996 through 2001 and be longleaf suitable soils. Other eligibility requirements apply.
- Establishment of bird buffers that provide habitat for the bob-white quail and numerous other bird species. The bird buffer strips established under CCRP have been proven to increase quail populations in the State. Land must have 4 out of 6 year cropping history in years 1996 through 2001. Other eligibility requirements apply.
- Establishment of riparian buffers on marginal pastureland that protect water quality for all animals, including humans. This practice establishes a strip of trees next to an eligible permanent water body used for livestock drinking water. The livestock are fenced out of the protected water body and cost-share assistance is provided to install wells as an alternate water source. Livestock producers that have utilized this practice in the past have stated that providing reliable clean well water to their livestock has greatly improved herd health.
Practices that will be available in the near future: - Cost-share for thinning CRP pines. A new practice will be available for land currently under CRP contracts and planted to pines. This practice will provide cost-share assistance for a pre-commercial thinning. If the trees are ready for commercial thinning, eligible producers can still apply, and if approved may thin their pines with no reduction in annual rental payments. Thinning thick monoculture pine stands to an acceptable level will greatly improve wildlife habitat.
- Cost-share for pollinator habitat improvement. Portions of land currently under CRP contracts may be eligible to receive cost-share assistance to be converted to mixes of grasses/wildflowers/forbs needed for pollinator habitat. Why care about pollinators? Native pollinators such as bees and butterflies are in decline. One out of every three bites of food you eat is dependent on pollinators. By establishing pollinator habitat you are helping ensure an adequate food supply for our country, even if you are not producing food commodities on your farm.
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