The 2025 South Carolina Agriculture Technology and Business Forum is set to convene on March 26 at the Phillips Market Center in Columbia, S.C. This event promises to be a pivotal gathering for stakeholders in South Carolina’s agriculture industry, focusing on critical areas such as policy considerations, natural resources, technology, value-added opportunities, and innovations.
The forum, organized by a coalition of key organizations including the Clemson Center for Agricultural Technology, Mixon Seed Service, Palmetto Agribusiness Council, South Carolina Department of Agriculture, South Carolina Farm Bureau, and South Carolina State University, aims to address the pressing challenges and emerging trends in the state’s production agriculture. Kendall Kirk, director of the Clemson University Center for Agricultural Technology, emphasized the forum’s role in fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among industry leaders, technology providers, research communities, and advocacy groups.
One of the key benefits of the forum is the opportunity it provides for research institutions to engage directly with agribusiness stakeholders. This dialogue is crucial for identifying and addressing the challenges faced by the agribusiness community. South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers highlighted the importance of collaboration, stating, “To confront the challenges facing agribusiness, we have to work together. This forum presents an opportunity for the agriculture industry to work with partners in academia and government to assure a bright future for farming in South Carolina.”
The forum will feature a lineup of experts from across the country, who will participate in panel discussions covering a range of topics. The agricultural policy panel will include Joe Outlaw from the Texas A&M University Agricultural and Food Policy Center, Kyle Kunkler of the American Soybean Association, and Michael Lalich with Lowcountry Labor LLC. The natural resources panel will consist of Richard Carr, land manager for the South Carolina Farm Bureau Land Trust; Landrum Weathers, owner of Buck Branch Farms LLC; Danny Kassis, general manager of strategic partnerships and customer solutions for Dominion Energy South Carolina; and Mike Mills, director of sustainability solutions for Reinke Manufacturing.
The innovations and value-added panel will feature Fred West, former Amick Farms senior executive and founder of West Resources Consulting Firm; Thomas Hunter, co-president of McCall Farms; and Ben Setzler, farmer and owner of Hi Brau Beef. The agricultural technology panel includes Rachael Sharp, farm manager for Sharp and Sharp Certified Seed; Ed Barnes, senior director of agricultural and environmental research at Cotton Incorporated; Josh Minor, cotton test lead for John Deere; and Andrew Brooks, business development manager for Cravo Equipment Limited.
Matthew Holt, dean of the Clemson University College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, underscored the significance of integrating advanced technologies into agriculture. “Fusing agriculture with applications of advanced technologies, such as robotics, remote sensing, drones, and more, will help ensure food security for South Carolinians and beyond,” Holt said. “To ensure our producers have access to cutting-edge technologies, those in farming, academia, government and the private sector need opportunities such as to convene to share information and best practices. The forum provides this unique opportunity.”
The forum is open to the public with a registration fee of $10. Seating is limited, and pre-registration is requested. Online registration and more information are available at South Carolina Ag Tech and Business Forum on Eventbrite.
