ag-formation

SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE                                  Telephone (803) 734-2210

D. LESLIE TINDAL, COMMISSIONER                                        Becky Walton, Director of Public Information

P.O. Box 11280, Columbia, South Carolina 29211                                                         bwalton@scda.state.sc.us

www.state.sc.us/scda

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 31, 1999

(Columbia, SC)---Les Tindal, Commissioner of Agriculture, cordially invites anyone involved in agriculture and those interested in agriculture to participate in the 2000 Winter Agricultural Study Tour to the island of Puerto Rico January 26 through February 2, 2000.

Located approximately 1,000 miles southeast of Miami, Puerto Rico is roughly the size of Connecticut.  The island has a tropical climate with an average annual temperature of 82oF.  The population is 3.8 million people who speak English and Spanish and use the US dollar as currency.

The 8-day tour will include all aspects of agriculture and agribusiness opportunities.  A diverse itinerary ranging from food processing, livestock operations, and field crops to fruits and vegetables will offer everyone an opportunity to view and learn from on-site visits.  Puerto Rico University personnel and SC Department of Agriculture staff members will accompany our group to answer questions and red information during the entire trip.

The purpose of the tour is to learn new and innovative production and marketing techniques suitable for operations here in South Carolina.

Commissioner Tindal said, "I believe this agricultural tour is one of the best we have offered.  I personally plan to participate in this ag tour and encourage anyone interested in agriculture and their spouses to strongly consider participating."  The tour is open to the public and is tax
deductible.

For more information on the 2000 Winter Agricultural Study Tour, call Roy Copelan at 803-734-2200.