Helpful Agriculture Links
Loans for land, farms and home. AgSouth serves 93 counties in Georgia and South Carolina from 24 office locations. In Laurens County, AgSouth is located at 306 Hillcrest Drive, Laurens. Call 864-984-3379 or click on the link for more information.
The SC Cattlemen's Association (SCCA) is owned, managed and funded by and for the cattle producers of SC. There are over 29 county or multi-county local associations functioning around the state, and the SCCA is, in turn, a charter affiliate member of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.
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Visit the Laurens County Cattlemen's Association by clicking here.
When consumers can easily identify, find and buy South Carolina Products, they are taking home fresher, tastier foods and supporting local farmers. This website has an easy to use listing of all Certified South Carolina Program registered farmers, food manufacturers, specialty food producers, packing facilities and others engaged in the production or manufacture of agricultural products in South Carolina.
The Census of Agriculture accounts for all U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. The Census, taken only once every five years, looks at land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures. The Census provides the only source of uniform, comprehensive and impartial agricultural data for every county in the nation. Through the Census, producers can show the nation the value and importance of agriculture, and they can help influence the decisions that will shape the future of American agriculture for years to come. The Laurens County Census Profile sheds a light on the agriculture numbers here in our county.
Clemson Extension employs Extension Agents who work closely with state extension specialists and researchers located on campus and at the various research and education centers located across the state. Your local Extension Agents provide expertise in Agribusiness, Agronomy, Food Safety & Nutrition, Horticulture, Livestock & Forages, Forestry and Wildlife Resources, Water Resources, and 4-H and Youth Development. The Laurens County Extension Office is located at 219 W Laurens Street, Laurens. They can be reached by calling 864-984-2514.
SC Farm Bureau is a grassroots, non-profit organization celebrating and supporting family farmers, locally grown food, and our rural lands through legislative advocacy, education, and community outreach. By connecting farmers to the larger community, they cultivate understanding about agriculture’s importance to our local economies. The Laurens County Farm Bureau is located at 726 E Main St, Laurens. Call for more information, 864-984-0413.
The Laurens County Chamber of Commerce is proud to serve as the unified voice to promote, strengthen and develop Laurens County by connecting organizations, supporting businesses, and building community.
Laurens County 4-H offers programs, clubs and projects in animal agriculture and veterinary science, natural resources and the environment, gardening, leadership and citizenship, personal growth and development, and science, engineering and technology.
The Laurens County Master Gardener Association works to provide opportunities for learning through educational gardening programs, beautification projects, home garden visits, newspaper articles, field trips and interaction among gardeners from all over Laurens County. They can be contacted by visiting their contact us tab on their website.
The purpose of the SC Department of Agriculture is to promote and nurture the growth and development of South Carolina's agriculture industry and its related businesses while assuring the safety and security of the buying public. This website is full of resources from forms, to links to all Agricultural Organizations in the state.
The objective of the National Guild is to promote the highest possible standard of living in the farmhouse and focus attention on the positive aspects of farm life. In order to promote the future of agriculture in SC, in 2013 the SC Master Farm Homemakers Guild established an Annual Scholarship of $1000 at Clemson University to provide need-based scholarships to students majoring in or intending to major in agricultural majors within the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences (CAFLS). CLICK HERE for more information on the fund and how to contribute.
SC SBDC Agribusiness
Argibusiness is the largest economic industry in South Carolina, contributing nearly $42 billion to the state’s economy and over 200,000 jobs. Based on the 2017 USDA Census, South Carolina has 24,791 farms, of which 88% are family or individually owned. In addition to farms, agribusiness includes a variety of affiliated businesses that serve producers including marketers, suppliers, funders, consultants and a host of other services. Small farms are big business in the South Carolina agriculture industry, and in recognizing this sector’s need for specialized assistance, the SC Small Business Development Centers (SC SBDC) responded by creating a specialized agribusiness program.
The mission of the Forestry Association is to maintain and secure adoption of local, state, and federal policies that encourage management, utilization, and conservation of forest resources while maintaining or strengthening the pro-business climate for the wood and paper products industry. Locally, the Laurens County Forest Landowners Association contact is Tom Brant, jbrant@clemson.edu or 864-602-0222.
Clemson Extension employs Extension Agents who work closely with state extension specialists and researchers located on campus and at the various research and education centers located across the state. Your local Extension Agents provide expertise in Agribusiness, Agronomy, Food Safety & Nutrition, Horticulture, Livestock & Forages, Forestry and Wildlife Resources, Water Resources, and 4-H and Youth Development.
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Visit the Laurens County Cooperative Extension by clicking here.
Upstate Forever
Upstate Forever is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects critical lands, waters, and the unique character of Upstate South Carolina. The primary goals are to: Protect land and water, Foster a love of place, Convey the importance of now, Serve as a trusted community champion. Click here to learn more.
The mission of the Laurens County Beekeeping Association is to educate the public and our own members the importance of honey bees as pollinators. Without honeybees, we would lose approximately 40 percent of the world’s food sources. Statistics have shown that there has been a 38 percent decrease in the number of bee pollinators in the last 28 years. By educating people about beekeeping and pollinator-friendly gardening techniques, the Laurens County Beekeeping Association hopes to improve those numbers.
Trees are incredibly important to our environment and provide us with a variety of benefits. They come in many shapes and sizes, from towering evergreens to small shrubs, making it possible for them to thrive in different climates around the world.