NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — The winner of the 2019 mayor’s race in North Charleston will make $193,880 a year.
The North Charleston City Council voted Thursday to give the mayor a 10 percent raise from the current $176,225 salary. The Post and Courier reports the raise will kick in after the city elects a mayor in November 2019.
The next mayor of South Carolina’s third largest city will make $87,000 a year more than Gov. Henry McMaster, although the governor does get extra perks like a free place to live in the governor’s mansion.
North Charleston spokesman Ryan Johnson says the mayor runs the city, so his salary should be compared to a city manager in a place like Mount Pleasant, where the administrator makes $181,188 a year.
Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
COLUMBIA, S.C., Dec. 21, 2018
/PRNewswire/ — A proposed partial settlement of a civil rights class
action lawsuit has received preliminary approval from a Federal Court
here in South Carolina; it will provide
Hepatitis C testing to all current and future inmates incarcerated in
the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC).
According to the terms of a proposed agreement in Russell Geissler et al. v. Bryan P. Stirling et al., almost 20,000 current inmates will be tested along with future inmates of the SCDC.
The United States District Court for the District of South Carolina has set a fairness hearing on the settlement for February 12, 2019 at 11:00 AM in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina in Columbia. That hearing has been scheduled by United States Senior District Court Judge, Margaret Seymour.
The settlement does not waive personal injury claims and the
litigation will go forward with regard to claims for the treatment of
Hepatitis C. The partial settlement was the result of significant fact
discovery including document production and depositions.
The class is represented by Christopher Bryant of Yarborough Applegate LLC located in Charleston, SC and Reuben Guttman of Guttman, Buschner & Brooks PLLC in Washington, D.C. Justin Brooks, Traci Buschner, Caroline Poplin MD/JD, and Paul Zwier of Guttman, Buschner & Brooks PLLC also worked on the litigation.
Counsel representing the class praised opposing counsel for working
toward this partial resolution marking an inroad toward addressing a
public health crisis.
National statistics show that nearly 17 percent of nation’s inmate
population has Hepatitis C, a bloodborne pathogen which can lead to
death. Prior to the litigation, the SCDC had failed to test inmates for
the disease, leaving them without the full awareness necessary to
prevent its transmission.
The litigation will continue as plaintiffs press for the treatment of
those who already have the disease. Today, several medications exist to
treat and cure the condition.
“This is a terrific result, but we still have our work cut out for us
to complete the litigation. This is not just a prison health issue;
it’s a public health issue,” said Christopher Bryant, counsel for the class.
“This is a win for all citizens of the State of South Carolina
and elsewhere. Treating inmates in prisons before they re-enter society
is the type of prevention that will save lives and and save precious
healthcare dollars,” said class counsel, Reuben Guttman.
Guttman, Buschner & Brooks PLLC is a nationally recognized
boutique complex litigation law firm; in the healthcare area alone it
has represented whistleblowers under the False Claims Act in cases which
have returned over $5.5 billion to government treasuries. More information about the firm and its members can be found at gbblegal.com.
Yarborough Applegate LLC is a plaintiff’s law firm primarily focused
on catastrophic personal injury, including traumatic brain injuries,
dram shop/drunk driving cases, trucking cases, and wrongful death. More
information on the firm, representative results, and its members can be
found at yarboroughapplegate.com.
If you have yet to hear the eclectic sounds of Béla Fleck, you don’t know what you have been missing! I am rarely at a loss for words, but when it comes to describing the experience I had when I was first officially introduced to Béla Fleck and his stringed companions, sometimes playing solo, sometimes accompanied by other musicians, all I can say is you will be doing yourself a great injustice if you do not take the opportunity to go and listen live for yourself!
This time around, complimenting his style is Béla’s talented wife, Abigail Washburn. Together they share an unstoppable sound on their Echo in the Valley Tour. Their individual passions combine so beautifully and can be felt in every line, every stanza, and every note throughout Echo in the Valley, the follow up album to their 2016 Grammy winning self-titled debut.
The duo takes their sound to new heights with their strict recording rules: all sounds must be created by the two of them, the only instruments used are banjos, and they must be able to perform every recorded song live.
The Echo in the Valley Tour will make a stop here in Charleston, South Carolina at the Charleston Music Hall on January 13th. And tickets make a great last minute Christmas gift!
We had the pleasure to catch up with Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn just after the completion of the first leg of the tour.
CD: “You’re just now wrapping up the first few cities of the tour. How has the tour been so far?”
Béla: “The tour has been wonderful, our first one since our baby Theo was born, about 6 months back. We’ve learned the ropes for how to tour with two kids in tow. It was our first duo shows since April, and it was a journey of rediscovery of our duo music and performing approach.”
CD: “What was your favorite part about making Echo in the Valley?”
Béla: I enjoyed the songwriting aspect, since I have rarely written lyrics in the past. Abby is a wonderful poetic lyricist, where I am more functional – more focused on how can I explain the story line clearly…we found a way to combine our points of view and arrived at a happy place after some back and forth. In the end we were very pleased with the collaboration – in which we retained our separate points of view and found our meeting point in the middle without sacrificing the songs integrity just to compromise.
CD: “I have tried to imagine how I might feel about it but can’t decide! Is it easier to collaborate with band members and various artists or with your significant other?”
Béla: “It is certainly different. When your partner doesn’t like your ideas, and it can feel like a personal rejection, til you get used to it. When you make it to the other side there is a healing benefit which is profound.”
CD: “Abigail, it was interesting to read about your activism work; more so the approach you have taken with it and the support you have gotten from our government. Echo in the Valley has that same “power behind music” creative approach. What message do you want your audience to take away from this album most?”
Abigail: “Pursue your unique center, seek wisdom in understanding other peoples’ viewpoint, engage in collaboration, but most importantly, build upon the beauty you see in the world.”
CD: “Is there a new special project in the works?”
Béla: “We have separate projects we are each developing, but nothing new for the duo at this time. The Echo In The Valley project really never got its full focus, since we stopped touring after 6 months or so to have a baby. There’s plenty of life left in it, lots of folks have not heard this material yet. Separately, Abby is completing a wonderful duo collab with a genius Chinese musician named Wu-Fei. I’ve been producing it, and it bridges between folk music of the US and China. I have several things brewing, one project with Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer and Rakesh Chaurasia,another with Toumani Diabate, an orchestra project and even a bluegrass idea brewing.”
CD: “Béla, a huge congratulations on your recent induction into the American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame! And alongside another personal favorite of mine, the late, great Mr. Jim Henson, not to exclude Borgy Borgerson and the late Eddie Collins. How was it being among these legends?”
Béla: “I loved it. I also love to sniff around all these old great banjos at the museum. I’m happy to join the club.”
CD: “I picture a large yet simple Christmas tree, a roaring fireplace, many friends and family, and music all day and well into the night.What does Christmas day in the Fleck household look like?”
Béla: “Abby and Juno love the Xmas thing and I happily ride along, although it wasn’t my scene growing up. Historically, Abby’s family has done Xmas in a big way. They take so much joy in it that I can get behind it!”
CD: “What are you most looking forward to in 2019?”
Béla: “We both feel so fortunate to have a family that is healthy and to have the opportunity to make music together. And we have the right amount of interaction outside of the duo so we can keep it fresh. Just living the life, being home together and out on tour together sounds just great!”
A very special thank you to Abigail and Béla for giving their time so graciously to myself and Charleston Daily!
So start the New Year out on a high note and head over to the Charleston Music Hall on Sunday, January 13th! You definitely won’t want to miss this show!
December 21 is the Winter Solstice. It is officially the shortest day of the calendar year, yet there is so much more to this day.
Throughout history, December 21 has stood the test of time as one of the most important days in world history. It has witnessed important births, deaths, inventions, battles, premieres and more.
Sit back and revel on the importance of December 21 and maybe later you can impress your friends with some trivia…
On this day, December 21….
Born December 21, 1117 – Thomas Becket – English archbishop of Canterbury, born in London, England
1620 – 102 Mayflower Pilgrims and about 30 crew land on Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts
1864 – General Sherman conquers Savannah, Georgia
1872 – Phileas Fogg completes his round the world trip in 80 days in Jules Verne’s “Around the World in Eighty Days”
1891 – First game of organized basketball (with rules), created by James Naismith, was played by 18 students in Springfield, Massachusetts
1898 – French scientists Pierre and Marie Curie discover radium
1913 – First crossword puzzle with 32 clues printed in NY World
1914 – First feature-length silent film comedy “Tillie’s Punctured Romance” was released starring Marie Dressler, Mabel Normand and Charlie Chaplin
Born December 21, 1926 – Joe Paterno – College Hall of Fame Coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions and 1986 Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year
1929 – First group hospital insurance plan is offered in Dallas, Texas
1933 – Fox films signs 5 year old Shirley Temple to a studio contract
1937 – First full-length animated feature film by Walt Disney, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” premieres at Carthay Circle Theatre
American Author of the classic “The Great Gatsby” F. Scott Fitzgerald died on December 21, 1940 at the age of 44
American WWII General George S. Patton died on December 21, 1945 at the age of 60
Born December 21, 1948 (70 Years Old Today) – Actor Samuel L. Jackson
1952 – Broadway Tunnel opens in San Francisco
Iconic tennis star Chris Evert born December 21, 1954
1958 – Charles de Gaulle wins a 7 year term as the 1st President of the 5th Republic of France
1959 – Tom Landry accepts the coaching job with the Dallas Cowboys where he would stay until 1988
TV and film star Kiefer Sutherland who brought us Jack Bauer was born on December 21, 1966
1968 – Apollo 8 – First manned Moon voyage launched with Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and William Anders on board
1968 – David Crosby, Stephen Stills & Graham Nash (CSN) make their premiere together in California
1969 – Legendary coach Vince Lombardi coaches his final football game. At the time was leading the Washington Redskins
1970 – Elvis Presley meets U.S. President Richard Nixon in the White House
Current French President Emmanuel Macron was born on December 21, 1977
1978 – Police in Des Plaines, Illinois arrest serial killer John Wayne Gacy charging him with murder
1989 – U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle sends out 30,000 Christmas cards with the word beacon spelled “beakon”
Alfred J. Gross, American inventor (Walkie-Talkie) died on December 21, 2000 at 82
EUGENE, Ore., Dec. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — RAVE Reviews, the innovative site that publishes entertaining rankings based on advanced data-driven analysis, has published its ranking of “America’s 25 Most Festive Christmas Towns,” available at https://www.ravereviews.org/travel/americas-25-most-festive-christmas-towns/.
A lot of us try to avoid traveling during the holidays, for obvious
reasons. Others would prefer to go on a festive road trip that’s fueled
by eggnog and the Christmas spirit. For this, a good place to start is
the infamous town of Leavenworth, coming in at #1 on RAVE’s 25 Most Festive Christmas Towns ranking.
This article offers something truly unique and jolly about each town
featured, along with a suggested location to hang your hat, dry your
boots, and sip a hot toddy after a long
day of caroling. According to Buddy The Elf, “The best way to spread
Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”
“Not everyone gets to experience a festive holiday where they live.
We want everyone to be jolly this Christmas, so we decided to rank and
publish the jolliest and festive towns there are,” said Hillary Miller, Managing Editor for RAVE Reviews.
When determining which towns to feature, RAVE compared similar
rankings from multiple sources across the internet and focused on
factors such as the number of holiday events held and overall holiday
spirit. These factors were then combined to make the “Jingle Score.”
The full list of featured towns and where to stay includes:
Andalusia, AL – Hickory Ridge Lodge & Inn Asheville, NC – Biltmore Estate Aspen, CO – The St. Regis Aspen Resort Charleston, SC – The Spectator Hotel Charlottesville, VA – Dinsmore Boutique Inn Durango, CO – Historic Strater Hotel Frankenmuth, MI – Midtown Bed & Breakfast Healdsburg, CA – Hotel Healdsburg Helen, GA – Hofbrau Riverfront Hotel Leavenworth, WA – Leavenworth Village Inn Lewisburg, WV – The Greenbrier Resort Nantucket, MA – Veranda House Naples, FL – Venetian Village Natchitoches, LA – Church Street Inn New York, NY – Warwick New York North Pole, AK – Hotel North Pole Oxford, MS – The Nest B ‘n’ B and Events Park City, UT – The Chateaux Deer Valley Santa Claus, IN – Santa’s Cottages at Lincoln Pines Lakefront Resort Solvang, CA – Royal Copenhagen Inn St. Augustine, FL – Ancient City Inn & Fig Tree Cottage Washington, D.C. – The Willard Hotel Williamsburg, VA – Cedars of Williamsburg Bed and Breakfast Woodstock, VT – The Village Inn of Woodstock Zoar, OH – The Zoar School Inn
RAVE Reviews is an authoritative and entertaining guide for consumer
goods, entertainment, and travel. It’s not a product review site or a
lifestyle magazine. But if those two met on an online dating site, 9
months later you’d have RAVE Reviews.
WARWICK, R.I., Dec. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — To help empower travelers to make more informed decisions when it comes to holiday travel, researchers at InsureMyTrip
reveal which airports to possibly avoid and how the latest data trends
can aid travelers when comparing travel insurance benefits.
Summary
InsureMyTrip predicts New York’s LaGuardia (LGA) will be most stressful for travelers this Christmas. LGA reports the highest percentage of canceled flights (4.9%) so far this year.
Flights scheduled for departure between 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm are more susceptible to delays and cancellations.
If a flight is canceled, most airlines will re-book travelers on the next available flight at no additional charge. However, airlines are not required to reimburse travelers for losses incurred as a result of a canceled flight.
This is the list of the most stressful airports this Christmas, based on flight cancellation rates:
Rank/Code
City/Airport
1. LGA
New York, NY: LaGuardia (Worst)
2. ORF
Norfolk, VA: Norfolk International
3. CHS
Charleston, SC: Charleston AFB/International
4. ROC
Rochester, NY: Greater Rochester International
5. PHL
Philadelphia, PA: Philadelphia International
6. EWR
Newark, NJ: Newark Liberty International
7. PVD
Providence, RI: Theodore Francis Green State
8. DCA
Washington, DC: Ronald Reagan Washington National
9. BUF
Buffalo, NY: Buffalo Niagara International
10. JFK
New York, NY: John F. Kennedy International
11. BOS
Boston, MA: Logan International
12. BDL
Hartford, CT: Bradley International
13. RDU
Raleigh/Durham, NC: Raleigh-Durham International
14. RIC
Richmond, VA: Richmond International
15. CLT
Charlotte, NC: Charlotte Douglas International
16. MDW
Chicago, IL: Chicago Midway International
17. BWI
Baltimore, MD: Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall
18. GRR
Grand Rapids, MI: Gerald R. Ford International
19. ORD
Chicago, IL: Chicago O’Hare International
20. CLE
Cleveland, OH: Cleveland-Hopkins International
21. CMH
Columbus, OH: John Glenn Columbus International
22. PIT
Pittsburgh, PA: Pittsburgh International
23. SDF
Louisville, KY: Louisville International-Standiford Field
24. CVG
Cincinnati, OH: Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International
25. JAX
Jacksonville, FL: Jacksonville International
26. PBI
West Palm Beach/Palm Beach, FL: Palm Beach International
27. BHM
Birmingham, AL: Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International
28. MKE
Milwaukee, WI: General Mitchell International
29. IAD
Washington, DC: Washington Dulles International
30. IND
Indianapolis, IN: Indianapolis International
31. MEM
Memphis, TN: Memphis International
32. DFW
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX: Dallas/Fort Worth International
33. BNA
Nashville, TN: Nashville International
34. BUR
Burbank, CA: Bob Hope
35. STL
St. Louis, MO: St Louis Lambert International
36. HOU
Houston, TX: William P Hobby
37. OMA
Omaha, NE: Eppley Airfield
38. RSW
Fort Myers, FL: Southwest Florida International
39. DAL
Dallas, TX: Dallas Love Field
40. MCI
Kansas City, MO: Kansas City International
41. SFO
San Francisco, CA: San Francisco International
42. MSY
New Orleans, LA: Louis Armstrong New Orleans International
43. OKC
Oklahoma City, OK: Will Rogers World
44. TPA
Tampa, FL: Tampa International
45. MCO
Orlando, FL: Orlando International
46. OAK
Oakland, CA: Metropolitan Oakland International
47. MIA
Miami, FL: Miami International
48. MSP
Minneapolis, MN: Minneapolis-St Paul International
49. FLL
Fort Lauderdale, FL: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International
50. DTW
Detroit, MI: Detroit Metro Wayne County
51. AUS
Austin, TX: Austin – Bergstrom International
52. ANC
Anchorage, AK: Ted Stevens Anchorage International
53. IAH
Houston, TX: George Bush Intercontinental/Houston
54. SAT
San Antonio, TX: San Antonio International
55. SJU
San Juan, PR: Luis Munoz Marin International
56. SAN
San Diego, CA: San Diego International
57. LAX
Los Angeles, CA: Los Angeles International
58. ABQ
Albuquerque, NM: Albuquerque International Sunport
59. DEN
Denver, CO: Denver International
60. TUS
Tucson, AZ: Tucson International
61. SJC
San Jose, CA: Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International
62. PHX
Phoenix, AZ: Phoenix Sky Harbor International
63. LAS
Las Vegas, NV: McCarran International
64. HNL
Honolulu, HI: Daniel K Inouye International
65. ATL
Atlanta, GA: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
66. ONT
Ontario, CA: Ontario International
67. GEG
Spokane, WA: Spokane International
68. SNA
Santa Ana, CA: John Wayne Airport-Orange County
69. RNO
Reno, NV: Reno/Tahoe International
70. SMF
Sacramento, CA: Sacramento International
71. PDX
Portland, OR: Portland International
72. OGG
Kahului, HI: Kahului Airport
73. SEA
Seattle, WA: Seattle/Tacoma International
74. BOI
Boise, ID: Boise Air Terminal
75. SLC
Salt Lake City, UT: Salt Lake City International
This
table contains data for non-stop domestic flights by major air carriers
collected in 2018 thus far by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
Flight Cancellation Policies
Flight cancellation policies vary by airline and circumstance. When
an airline cancels a flight, most will try to rebook passengers on the
next available flight.
Airlines are also not required to reimburse travelers for losses
incurred as a result of a canceled flight, such as prepaid,
non-refundable:
Hotel room
All-inclusive vacation or resort
A cruise
A tour or safari
Concert or entertainment tickets
Travelers concerned about protecting any trip expenses should buy travel insurance.
Dealing With Flight Delays
Each airline has its own flight delay policy for passengers waiting
at the airport; there are no federal requirements. Travelers concerned
about delays should be aware of the following:
Generally, early departures are less likely to be delayed.
Book a non-stop flight (no stops).
When booking, ask the airline about the on-time performance percentage for an individual flight.
Closer to departure, check real-time airport data. This will
provide timely information on weather concerns or air traffic delays.
Be aware of “creeping delays.” This is when an airline continues to
push back a departure time it can sometimes be extended for hours or
lead to a cancellation.
If a flight is delayed, try to learn the reason why to better gauge
if the flight is in jeopardy of being canceled. Reasons for delays may
include maintenance, fueling, crew issues, weather, previous flight with
the same aircraft arrived late, causing the present flight to depart
late, or security issues.
Some flights will be delayed on the tarmac before or after
take-off. As a general rule, DOT prohibits flights to remain on the
tarmac for more than three hours.
Passengers with departing flights at busier airports should consider travel insurance with robust travel delay benefits.
To schedule an interview with an expert or to request specific research data, please contact news@insuremytrip.com.
Methodology
Rankings were based on the flight cancellation rate per airport.
Airports on the list also reported 13,000 or more scheduled flights for
2018 thus far. Researchers also noted other factors, like hurricanes,
led some airports to report a high number of canceled flights earlier in
the year.
About InsureMyTrip
It’s simple. InsureMyTrip finds you the right travel insurance plan,
every time. InsureMyTrip is the authority on travel insurance. We are
committed to empowering travelers to make the best possible insurance
decisions by leveraging our technology, data intelligence, and
expertise.
VisitSummervile in December released a new heartwarming video, “Welcome to Summerville, South Carolina
Enjoy this 3 Minute look at the beauty and wonder of the Lowcountry
Full Video Description
Where charm and southern hospitality blend gracefully with the modern and progressive. Summerville SC is rich in history with a focus on economic development that preserves the past while building for the future.
Steeped in natural beauty of lush pines and blooming azaleas Summerville – a Tree City USA community may be a small town, but when you’re a small town with big charm anything is possible. Summerville is recognized as a nurturing community, where children can grow and develop. Minutes from Charleston and the beaches, our world-class sports venues and superior schools make Summerville a truly special place to work, live and play.
Be sure to stop and enjoy all that our charming town has to offer. Summerville, with its vibrant town square, five star accommodations, and over a hundred dining options, reflects its reputation as the “Birthplace of Sweet Tea and Southern Hospitality.” Take a stroll through our historic downtown or simply take a seat and enjoy the small town charm as you allow your taste buds to tingle with every sip of our homegrown southern sweet tea. You’ll soon find yourself feeling relaxed, rejuvenated, and thinking that this is exactly how life should be.
So come on in and hang out in the town where not only the tea is sweet, but the people are too.
WEST COLUMBIA – With a focus on economic development, the South
Carolina agricultural industry is poised for positive productivity in
2019.
Cotton is expected to remain a major player in the South Carolina agricultural economy in 2019. Image Credit: Clemson University Relations
This was the message Clemson experts gave during the recent third annual Ag Outlook conference. Clemson agricultural economists Nathan Smith, Scott Mickey, Adam Kantrovich, Bernt Nelson and Steve Richards
reported some of the more traditional crops – corn, cotton, peanuts and
soybeans – are expected to remain major players in the state’s
agricultural economy. South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh
Weathers said industrial hemp, oysters and greenhouse crops also could
make a strong showing in the future.
“The United States had a large cotton crop in 2017, coming in at
20.92 million bales,” Smith said. “The demand remains strong, although
growth is slowing.”
The slow growth is contributed to events such as an early season
drought that is expected to lead to the abandonment of many acres of
cotton in the Southwest. A report from the United States Department of
Agriculture shows U.S. cotton production was down seven percent from
October to November. The South Carolina yield is down due to hurricanes
Florence and Michael, and the size of the crop is likely to get smaller
with late and failed harvest.
Cotton prices for 2019 probably will remain around 75 to 79 cents per
pound. Cotton acreage is expected to hold at around 14 million across
the United States, with 300,000 acres in South Carolina.
Unlike cotton, where more acres were planted, fewer acres were
planted in peanuts this year, Smith said. A total of 1.426 million acres
were planted in peanuts across the U.S. in 2018, down 20 percent. South
Carolina farmers planted 87,000 acres of peanuts in 2018, down from a
record 122,000 acres planted in peanuts in 2017.
The yield for peanuts across the United States is expected to be
better than average at 4,066 pounds per acre. The yield for South
Carolina peanuts is estimated to be 3,500 pounds per acre, down about 10
percent due to the hurricanes and rain. Domestic use for peanuts is
increasing, but the key will be exports. About half of the United States
peanut exports go to Canada and Mexico.
China has become a big buyer, but currently is priced out of the
market. Retaliatory tariffs from China could be a deal breaker for
future United States exports to the country, Smith said. In a trade
dispute, China and the United States have imposed new tariffs against
goods imported from each country. Chinese tariffs on United States goods
include soybeans. A total of 400,000 acres of soybeans were planted in
South Carolina in 2017 for a value of almost $138 million. Because of
tariffs, soybeans have not been moving, leading to an increase in
supply.
“The soybean supply has been increasing while the demand has been
flat,” Mickey said. “We need fewer acres of soybeans because with the
current excess supply, it’s going to be difficult for South Carolina
farmers to cash flow soybeans in 2019.”
Mickey said a positive impact on price can still be seen if the
tariff situation can be worked out, adding some rally should be seen
between now and May 2019. Kantrovich warned that if the tariff situation
cannot be resolved, import duties eventually will be passed down to
consumers and can create inflationary issues in some sectors.
Corn prices are showing an increase this year. South Carolina farmers planted 350,000 acres of corn valued at $188 million.
“The price spread is narrowing,” Mickey said. “But watch what happens with planting intentions.”
The outlook for livestock also depends on trade tariffs. Nelson said
prices aren’t as good as last year and are seeing volatility. The demand
for pork remains strong, but packer – livestock wholesale broker,
dealer or distribution – margins are a bit tighter than last year.
Nelson advised conference attendees to keep an eye on trade conflicts
because U.S. pork and beef exports are substantial drivers in the
current market situation.
The U.S. dairy market faces challenges, including too many cows producing too much milk, Kantrovich said.
As for the poultry industry, Kantrovich said broiler production is
3.3 percent higher than 2017. This increase primarily is because of
higher average weights, he said. A 25 million-pound reduction is
expected over the next few quarters, he said.
Goats and bees are emerging markets that could show promise for South
Carolina farmers, Richards said. There is money to be made in goats,
but marketing and processing are two hurdles state farmers face. Money
also can be made in the honey market, if beekeepers can keep their bee
colonies alive, he said.
South
Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers tells farmers at
Clemson’s Annual Ag Outlook Conference he foresees positive productivity
for the state’s agriculture in 2019. Image Credit: Clemson Public Service and Agriculture
Other topics discussed during the conference included an outlook on
the southern timber market by Yanshu Li, a forest economist and taxation
outreach specialist from the University of Georgia. Li said demand
exists for timber products with recovery of the housing market, but a
large inventory will continue to keep sawtimber prices down. Pulpwood
prices are expected to remain strong but will feel downward pressure
from increased lumber production.
On the issue of industrial hemp, Weathers said to make this market
successful in South Carolina, industrial hemp grown in the state has to
be of higher quality than that grown in other states. The South Carolina
industrial hemp pilot program began in 2017-2018. For information about
the South Carolina industrial hemp program, visit the South Carolina Department of Agriculture’s Hemp FAQ or Clemson Cooperative Extension Service’s South Carolina Industrial Hemp Program.
“I’m excited about the interest in growing industrial hemp in South
Carolina,” Weathers said. “Industrial hemp is about crop diversity and
new business for our farmers. As we continue developing this industry,
we work towards a goal of expanding opportunities for our farmers so
that South Carolina can truly compete on a national and an international
level. Our goal for the industrial hemp market is to make the South
Carolina market more different and better than all others.”
Weathers also spoke about controlled environment agriculture, or
growing crops in greenhouses; using new technology to accelerate
research capacity and the U.S. Stevia plant coming to Chesterfield
County.
“Our focus is on economic development,” Weathers said. “Our goal is
to position agriculture in an aggressive fashion so that the state as a
whole will benefit from this valuable resource.”
The ARK’s inaugural Ugly Sweater 5K Dash in historic downtown Summerville raised more than $4,000 on December 1, 2018. With 110 runners registered, 67people finishing the 5K race, several sponsors, and more than 20 volunteers the funds raised will help support The ARK’s work in five area counties, including their social respite programs, memory screenings, resource fairs, educational workshops and support groups.
ABOUT THE ARK, ALZHEIMER’S FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES
The ARK is a local nonsectarian nonprofit outreach program providing comprehensive support services to families coping with Alzheimer’s or related dementia. For more information, call 843-471-1360 or visit thearkofsc.org.
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