Farmers Who Want Part of $40M in State Aid Face Deadline

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – South Carolina farmers in 42 counties who want some of the $40 million in aid legislators approved over Gov. Nikki Haley’s veto have hours to turn in their paperwork.

Applications must be postmarked or delivered Monday to the state Department of Agriculture.

Legislators approved the aid in May to help farmers stay afloat after last October’s torrential rains.

The agriculture agency says flooding wiped out $330 million worth of crops at harvest time, and farmers lost an additional $45 million because they couldn’t plant winter crops in bogs.

The aid can cover up to 20 percent of losses, but no farmer can get more than $100,000.

Farmers in Cherokee, Pickens and Oconee counties have three more weeks to apply. Those counties weren’t added to the eligibility list until July 20.