The South Carolina General Assembly has appropriated $35 million in one-time funding for state level economic relief payments. These Farm Accountability and Resilience Measures Program payments are for row crops, specialty crops, cattle producers, and tobacco.
This morning, the South Carolina Department of Agriculture began sending letters to producers who received payments under the 2026 federal Farmer Bridge Assistance Program distributed by the USDA Farm Service Agency. State relief payments for row crop production will be indexed to these federal payments. In addition to having participated in the USDA Farm Bridge Assistance Program, additional eligibility for a state payment includes a producer being actively engaged in farming in South Carolina and intending to farm in the 2027 calendar year. The letter contains instructions and a unique access code for completing an online affidavit and supplying contact information and a Taxpayer Identification Number.
Producers who do not complete these online steps will not receive a payment.
The return address of the letter is “South Carolina Department of Agriculture, c/o 2026 Farm Relief” with a PO Box in Baton Rouge, Louisiana – the address of a contractor that is assisting SCDA with program administration.
All required information must be submitted no later than November 30, 2026. Payments will be issued on a rolling basis following SCDA’s review and approval of completed information.
Some producers may be eligible for additional assistance related to specialty crops, tobacco and cattle production. SCDA will send information related to those payments at a later time in a separate letter.
If you have questions or would like additional information about the Farm Accountability and Resilience Measures Program, visit https://agriculture.sc.gov/2026farmrelief/ .
Thanks,
Sam Quinney
Director, Agricultural Outreach
South Carolina Department of Agriculture
1200 Senate Street | Wade Hampton Building, 5th Floor
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
Office: 803-734-2218
