South Carolina Department of Agriculture

What South Carolina Department of Agriculture does

The South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA) is a state government agency established in 1879 and headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina, that regulates and promotes agriculture across the state. The agency is led by an elected Commissioner of Agriculture and operates through two main functional portfolios: regulatory/inspection services and agricultural marketing/promotion programs. On the regulatory side, SCDA inspects approximately 24,000 retail food establishments annually, implements the FDA Produce Safety Rule under FSMA, regulates Grade A dairy facilities through Milk Safety, oversees commercial animal feed product registration, administers the SC Hemp Farming Program under SC Code Ann. 46-55-10, tests 64,000+ gas pumps and 20,000+ commercial scales annually through Consumer Services, and operates an ISO Accredited laboratory with five sections (Seed, Animal Feed, Dairy & Milk, Petroleum, Residue). On the marketing and promotion side, SCDA runs the Certified South Carolina cooperative branding program, Fresh on the Menu (requiring 25% local sourcing), Homegrown By Heroes for veteran farmers, three State Farmers Markets and supports nearly 140 community farmers markets, the Certified Roadside Markets program, agritourism (991+ listings), Community Supported Agriculture, and the 100+ year-old Market Bulletin publication.

SCDA serves a diversified customer base of more than 22,600 farms covering 4.6 million acres of farmland, 24,000 retail food establishments, three licensed warehouse categories (25 licensed warehouses with capacity for 425,000 cotton bales and 5.6 million bushels of grain), seven food hubs, public schools, restaurants, and consumers. Revenue derives from a mix of state appropriations, federal grants and cooperative agreements (USDA AMS, Specialty Crop Block Grant, RFSI, TEFAP, CSFP), and regulatory fees including commercial feed registration ($20/product annually), SCATE agricultural tax exemption cards ($24 per five-year cycle), antifreeze registration, ice vending machine registration, metrology calibration services ($45 minimum invoice), serviceperson registration ($25/person), and GAP audit fees ($163/hour with 90% cost share reimbursement). The agency's Office of Agribusiness Development, established in 2015, and the ACRE (Agribusiness Center for Research and Entrepreneurship) program, funded by the SC General Assembly since 2017, have together awarded over $1.86 million to 163 agricultural entrepreneurs.

SCDA's underlying technology is a government regulatory and administrative services platform built around inspection systems, market information distribution (USDA Market News Service delivered via online reports, telephone, daily radio programs, and newspapers), the SC Food Grades A/B/C inspection and grading system, the Rapid Response Team for food contamination emergencies, and cooperative branding infrastructure. Distribution channels include the three State Farmers Markets, approximately 140 community-based farmers markets, Certified SC retail and restaurant partners, public school districts (Certified SC Cafeteria), agritourism operations, and CSAs. Strategic partners include USDA AMS, Clemson University, SC Department of Education, SUSTA, three Farm Credit banks (AgFirst, AgSouth, ArborOne), and 14+ named agricultural associations. The agribusiness sector SCDA oversees generates $51.8 billion in annual economic impact and supports nearly 260,000 jobs in South Carolina.

Name

South Carolina Department of Agriculture

Legal name

South Carolina Department of Agriculture

Website

https://agriculture.sc.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1879

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The South Carolina Department of Agriculture is a state government agency established in 1879 that regulates and promotes agriculture across South Carolina, serving over 22,600 farms, 24,000 retail food establishments, and consumers through inspection programs, marketing initiatives like Certified South Carolina, and farm-to-school partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

State Agricultural Regulatory Services

NAICS

Regulation of Agricultural Marketing and Commodities (92614), Regulation of Agricultural Marketing and Commodities (926140)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Agriculture, Fisheries & Food Administration (BPAIAAAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regulatory Compliance, Permitting & Audit Readiness (Food Safety, Environmental, Labor) (AFACAJAE), Accredited Certification Bodies (CBs) – ISO 22000/FSSC 22000/BRCGS/SQF (AFALACAA), Seed Quality Testing & Certification Support (Germination, Purity, Vigor) (AFAOADAK), Sanitation & Hygienic Design Compliance (SSOPs, GMPs) (AFALADAJ)

Keywords

• Agricultural regulation
• Food safety inspection
• Agricultural marketing
• Farm certification programs
• State agriculture services

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Regulatory Fees and Permits: SCDA generates revenue through various regulatory fees including feed product registration ($20 per product annually), antifreeze registration, ice vending machine registration, dealer/handler licensing, and retail food establishment permits. These fees fund regulatory oversight and inspection programs.
2. SCATE Card Fees: Agricultural sales tax exemption card program with a $24 fee for new applications and renewals, valid for five years. Additional replacement cards (three total: one credit-card sized and two key-fob sized) available for $5 per set.
3. Feed Registration Fees: Commercial feed product registration fees of $15 per product plus $5 technology processing cost, totaling $20 annually. Additional $10 late fee per product for registrations after January 15th.
4. Metrology Calibration Services: Fee-based calibration services for mass and volume standards for private sector customers, with minimum invoice amount of $45. Public sector (city, county, state governments) receive services at no charge.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The South Carolina Department of Agriculture is a state government agency established in 1879 that provides regulatory oversight, inspection services, and marketing/promotional programs for South Carolina's agricultural industry. It supports farmers, producers, and food businesses through certification programs such as Certified SC, as well as consumer- and institution-facing initiatives such as Fresh on the Menu and Farm to School.

Product overview

The South Carolina Department of Agriculture operates as a government regulatory and promotional agency providing a broad portfolio of services organized around agricultural marketing/promotion programs and regulatory/inspection services. The marketing portfolio includes the Certified South Carolina branding program, Fresh on the Menu restaurant program, Homegrown By Heroes veteran farmer labeling, Specialty Foods promotion, Certified Roadside Markets, State Farmers Markets, Agritourism support, Community Supported Agriculture, and the Market Bulletin publication. Farm and business support services include Grants Administration, SC Agricultural Tax Exemption (SCATE), Agribusiness Development with ACRE, SC Farm Link farmland transition program, and SC Farm to School/Certified SC Cafeteria. The regulatory portfolio encompasses Food Safety Programs (Retail Food Safety inspecting ~24,000 establishments, Wholesale Food Safety, Produce Safety implementing FSMA), Milk Safety, Animal Feed Safety, and Hemp Farming Program permitting. Supporting laboratory services include an ISO Accredited lab for seed, animal feed, dairy/milk, petroleum, and residue testing. Additional services include Metrology calibration, Consumer Services (gas pump/scale inspection), Federal-State Inspection Services (produce grading), Dealers & Handlers licensing with Grain and Cotton Guaranty Fund, and the Good Agricultural Practices voluntary certification program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Certified South Carolina: A cooperative branding program among farmers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, and SCDA to help consumers identify goods grown in South Carolina.
• Fresh on the Menu
• Certified Roadside Markets
• Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
• Homegrown By Heroes
• South Carolina Specialty Food Association

Products and services

• Certified SC

Quantifiable outcome

• $51.8 billion annual economic impact of agribusiness
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership between SCDA, SCDE, and Clemson University to cultivate relationships among SC schools, farmers, and communities; increase healthy local food availability; promote agriculture and nutrition education; and provide experiential learning opportunities.
• Agribusiness Center for Research and Entrepreneurship (ACRE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Housed within SC Department of Agriculture's Office of Agribusiness Development. Funded by SC General Assembly since 2017 to promote agribusiness, ACRE has awarded over $1.86 million to 163 agricultural entrepreneurs and funded industry-driven research projects.
• South Carolina Specialty Food Association (SCSFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCSFA is the only statewide organization dedicated to promoting specialty food products in South Carolina. Active members are required to be members of the Certified South Carolina Program. The association supports promotional, research, and educational efforts for improving marketing and quality production of specialty foods.
• Farmer Veteran CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization administering the Homegrown by Heroes initiative. Certified South Carolina is a proud partner, allowing approved members of both programs to use a blended logo combining Certified SC brand with Homegrown by Heroes national recognition.
• Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA)strategicGTM or Marketing PartnerSUSTA helps small businesses in Southern United States promote value-added U.S. food and agricultural products to foreign markets through education, global events, and cost share opportunities.
• South Carolina Agritourism AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe only association dedicated to promoting and marketing South Carolina Agritourism Farms. Jointly promotes agritourism through education, hospitality standards, economic growth facilitation, and advocacy within state-level organizations.
• Clemson UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in SC Farm to School program along with SCDA and SCDE. Also handles pesticide regulation, state meat and poultry inspection, and nursery certification through separate units.
• USDA Agricultural Marketing ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative agreement partner for Market News Service and Federal-State Inspection Services. USDA AMS provides grading, certification, and verification services through partnership with SCDA.
• SC Association of Farmers MarketsstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAssociation supporting and promoting community-based farmers markets throughout South Carolina. SCDA promotes the association and provides market registration support.
• SC Food Hub NetworkstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of seven food hubs working directly with growers to get products to local markets. Many hubs provide technical assistance like crop planning.
• SC New and Beginning Farmer ProgramstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram focused on enabling new and beginning farmers to be successful through tools, knowledge, and skills for entrepreneurship, business management, stewardship, and marketing.
• Farming Foundations Course (Clemson Extension)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelf-paced online course developed by Clemson Extension teaching beginner and advanced farmers foundations for vegetable production including soil testing, fertility, irrigation, and business portfolio development.
• South Carolina Farm BureaustrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor agricultural advocacy organization in South Carolina providing resources, representation, and support for farmers.
• South Carolina Food Policy CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCouncil enabling production and consumption of healthy, locally-grown food through networking, partnerships, strategies, programming, and policy recommendations. Membership is free.
• SC Specialty Crop Growers AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports promotional, research, and educational efforts for marketing and quality production of fresh fruit, vegetables, and specialty crops. Provides grants for cold storage and water testing, educational resources, and workshops.

Scale indicators23 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tennessee Department of Agriculture: Tennessee's state agriculture department operating similar divisions — regulatory services (food safety, weights/measures), agricultural development, marketing (Pick Tennessee Products), and farmer grant programs. Directly comparable structure in an adjacent Southeast state.
• Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Florida's combined agriculture and consumer services department with parallel food safety, weights/measures, and marketing functions (Fresh From Florida). Larger in scale and budget than SCDA but offers the closest one-to-one mapping of services and regulatory authority.
• Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Virginia's state agriculture and consumer services agency covering food safety, commodity grading, weights/measures, marketing (Virginia Grown/Virginia's Finest), and farmer development — directly comparable to SCDA's service portfolio.
• North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: NC's state agriculture department offering equivalent services — food/feed inspection, weights/measures, marketing programs (Got to Be NC), research stations, and farmer grants. Closest functional peer given similar Southeast US regulatory structure and tobacco/cotton/sweet potato farmer base.
• Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries: Alabama's state agriculture department providing analogous services including food safety, weights/measures, commodity inspection, marketing programs (Alabama Sweet), and agribusiness development — closely mirrors SCDA's structure and Southeast regional context.
• Georgia Department of Agriculture: Georgia's state agriculture department with the same broad regulatory and promotional mandate — food safety inspections, weights/measures, commodity marketing programs (Georgia Grown), and farmer support. Operates in an immediately adjacent geography with similar crop mix (broilers, peanuts, cotton) and overlapping farmer base.

Broad incumbents

• Texas Department of Agriculture: Much larger state agriculture department with broader portfolio (school nutrition, rural healthcare, multibillion-dollar programs) — same functional role but materially greater scale, budget, and geographic scope.
• USDA Agricultural Marketing Service: Federal agency partner with cooperative agreement with SCDA (Market News Service, Federal-State Inspection Services). Operates the federal-state commodity grading and inspection system that SCDA executes locally — same products/services at federal scale.

Others

• Clemson Cooperative Extension Service: Clemson's extension arm partners with SCDA on Farm to School, beginning farmer programs, pesticide regulation, and meat/poultry inspection. Overlaps significantly in farmer education, certification, and applied research — an institutional peer in SC agricultural extension.
• South Carolina Farm Bureau: SC's largest agricultural advocacy organization — a strategic partner with overlap in farmer support, policy advocacy, and member services. Distinct from SCDA as a private member-based organization rather than a state regulator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SCDAgriculture
• Facebookfacebook.com/SCDAgriculture
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scdagriculture

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South Carolina Department of Agriculture