South Carolina Senate Approves $40M Farmer Flood Aid

May 2, 2016

The Senate has approved a bill providing $40 million to South Carolina farmers devastated by last fall’s flooding.

Senators voted 33-3 Thursday on legislation allowing farmers in disaster-declared counties to apply for up to $100,000 in grants covering up to 20 percent of crop losses.

The amended bill returns to the House, which passed its version 95-6.

Agriculture officials say October’s torrential rains wiped out $330 million worth of crops at harvest time. Farmers lost an additional $45 million because they couldn’t plant winter crops in bogs.

Supporters say the bill aims to help family farms survive until the next harvest.

Gov. Nikki Haley has threatened to veto the bill, saying while she feels badly for farmers, she feels badly for small businesses too, and farmers shouldn’t be treated differently.

Related:

Topics Flood Agribusiness South Carolina Politics

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