Clemson may have to cut its how-to help for public

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The proposal is one of the cuts included in Gov. Sanford's 301-page, $5.1 billion budget to address a $350 million budget shorfall without raising taxes.

The recommendations for the land-grant university would "dramatically reduce" Clemson's public service activities program, according to university officials.

The programs offer Upstate residents a variety of information through activities and literature.

"We were disappointed that the budget did not recognize the value of our public service mission or more aggressively support the role of research universities in economic development," Clemson President James F. Barker said in a statement. "We need to do a better job of communicating with our state leaders about the contributions Clemson's research and public service programs are making to the state."

The governor is trying to focus the effort of the program, not dispute the contributions Clemson makes through the program, said spokesman Will Folks.

It boils down to the "core mission of the PSA program," he said. "Governor Sanford believes that should be the farmers."

Statistics from the Department of Agriculture show that South Carolina has 24,000 farms, 30 percent fewer farms than 25 years ago, yet the governor's budget has increased spending per farm, Folks said.

Clemson prints more than 1,000 free publications with titles ranging from tractor safety to home vegetable gardening.

"While it's nice to print books about raising earthworms, when a third of your eighth-graders aren't going be able to read those books because they're not at the proficient levels in K-through-12 education, there's a real disconnect there," Folks said.

But Barker said conservation and service to families and children have always been part of Clemson's public service mission. The programs have been credited with increases in farm productivity, but have also provided valuable information to rural families and at-risk youth, he said.