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Thread-Topic: Urgent need: SC Farmers - Crop losses in 2015
From: <governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com>
To: <governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com>
Subject: Urgent need: SC Farmers - Crop losses in 2015
Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2015 15:41:11 -0500
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<APP>CUSTOM
<PREFIX>Ms.</PREFIX>
<FIRST>Kathy</FIRST>
<MIDDLE>S</MIDDLE>
<LAST>Heustess</LAST>
<SUFFIX></SUFFIX>
<TITLE>CEO</TITLE>
<ORGANIZATION>ArborOne Farm Credit</ORGANIZATION>
<ADDR1>800 Woody Jones Blvd</ADDR1>
<ADDR2></ADDR2>
<CITY>Florence</CITY>
<STATE>SC</STATE>
<ZIP>29501</ZIP>
<EMAIL>Kheustess@arborone.com</EMAIL>
<PHONE_H>843-307-5912</PHONE_H>
<PHONE_B>843-662-1527</PHONE_B>
<ISSUE>LETT</ISSUE>
<SUBJECT>Urgent need: SC Farmers - Crop losses in 2015</SUBJECT>
<CUSTOM1>68.152.9.254</CUSTOM1>
<MSG>
I am writing as an agricultural cooperative banker sincerely asking for your help for the farmers of SC.  Please ask Congress for the federal funds for farmers to coverage the hundreds of million in losses from crops and other damages.

Hugh Weathers, our Commissioner of Ag has said crop damage is estimated at $378mm and rising.  

So much has been done to help the people of SC devastated by the flood and for that we are extremely thankful for your leadership and swift actions.  FEMA help was needed and received. Now is the time to help the farmer.  

As a Clemson graduate with a business degree, I am sure you realize that farms are not like other small businesses.  If you look at a farmer's balance sheet, they hold primarily land and equipment.  They can not file a claim for repairs and restoration of "inventory" and be back in business in relatively short time.  They can not change careers either.  Farming is not only a way of making a living, it's a way of life.  Farmers don't quit, they die.   Talk about an "all in" strategy.

Row crop farmers typically have one opportunity to make a profit each year.  This year that opportunity was destroyed by weather conditions.  The impact from the flooding has left the farmer unable to get into his fields to access the damage, determine if there is anything to salvage and therefore, unable to settle with their crop insurance carrier, assuming he has insurance, which would on average provide coverage of about 65%.  To further compound the problem, there is no option to plant a fall crop.  Due to the drought and heat, the growing season was late, which made projected harvest late, then 2 weeks of rain prior to the flood prevented harvest of most mature row crops, especially impacted was soybeans, cotton, peanuts, and vegetables.   Ultimately the conditions sited above brought about by the flood caused the final unsurmountable blow to the 2015 crop year in SC and specifically in the Pee Dee region where row crops are prominent.  

As an agricultural banker, I am making a plea for the farmer when I ask you to please "ask for the federal funding"; please do not put the bankers in the position to put good farmers out of business.  The economy of SC needs the ag industry to be strong.  Thank you!


</MSG>

</APP>