FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JULY 6, 2001
Legislation Authorizes Market Bulletin Subscription Fee
COLUMBIA---Because of a half billion-dollar shortfall in the state coffers, the SC Department of Agriculture budget has been cut 12%. In order to meet the challenge, the Department has been forced to make adjustments in every area of the agency including the Market Bulletin. Now, a $10 annual subscription fee is required to subscribe to the 88-year-old publication.
The Market Bulletin has been a valuable resource for South Carolinians since it was started in the summer of 1913 when it was first established as a bureau of marketing through which farmers could list produce they had for sale and people could send in lists of items wanted.
Les Tindal, Commissioner of Agriculture, said, “Because of a Proviso in the state budget bill passed by the General Assembly on June 22, 2001, I am sad to say, that we can no longer offer the Market Bulletin free to the citizens of the state.”
The Proviso states: “The Market Bulletin shall be mailed only to those persons who request it in writing and a record of each request shall be maintained by the Department. The Department shall biennially purge the subscription list through use of a coupon printed in the Bulletin. Provided further, that notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Department of Agriculture is authorized to charge a yearly subscription rate of $10.00 to each person requesting the Bulletin and may charge up to $5.00 per classified advertisement printed in the Bulletin. The funds collected pursuant to this provision shall be retained by the Department to defray the costs of publication and related incidental expenses.”
In order to comply with this legislation, those who want to continue to receive the Market Bulletin must complete a subscription coupon. The coupon is available by completing the form in the Market Bulletin, by calling 803-734-2536 and asking for a coupon, by logging on to the SCDA web site at www.scda.state.sc.us and downloading the coupon, or by emailing marketbulletin@scda.state.sc.us. Current and new subscribers should mail the coupon with a check of money order for $10 (NO CASH) NOW to: Circulation/Finance Division, P.O. Box 11280, Columbia, SC 29211. Those who have not paid for a subscription will be dropped from the mailing list in the near future. At this time, there will be no charge for ads. The Market Bulletin will continue to be available online at www.scda.state.sc.us.
Since 1913, the Market Bulletin has been a free resource for the citizens of the state to buy and sell agricultural items. Unfortunately, because of indiscriminate spending practices of others in state government, the SC Department of Agriculture and, indeed, the Market Bulletin must suffer the consequences.
Tindal said, “I hope that you [subscribers] will continue to support the Market Bulletin, because it would be a shame to lose another avenue for marketing SC agricultural products. When SC farmers have no way to sell their products and you have no way to buy them, they lose---and you lose, too.”
For more information about the Market Bulletin, call 803-734-2536.