The 2025 South Carolina Agriculture Technology and Business Forum is set to convene on March 26 at the Phillips Market Center in Columbia, offering a platform for stakeholders to discuss and shape the future of the state’s agricultural sector. The event, with a modest registration fee of $10, aims to bring together crop and livestock production leaders to explore current and emerging trends, with a particular focus on policy considerations, natural resources, technology, and value-added opportunities.
Kendall Kirk, director of the Clemson University Center for Agricultural Technology, emphasized the forum’s role in addressing challenges and fostering collaborative relationships. “This forum is designed to address challenges and shape the future of the state’s production agriculture,” Kirk said. “It will allow participants to network and learn, and foster collaborative relationships with technology providers, research communities and advocacy groups.”
The forum will feature panels of experts discussing critical 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. This panel will delve into the policy landscape, exploring how regulations and government initiatives can support or hinder agricultural progress.
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. This panel will discuss the sustainable management of natural resources, a crucial aspect of ensuring long-term agricultural viability.
Innovations and value-added opportunities will be the focus of another panel, featuring 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. This panel will explore how technological advancements and value-added processes can enhance agricultural productivity and profitability.
The agricultural technology panel will include 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. This panel will discuss the latest technological innovations, such as robotics, remote sensing, and drones, and their potential to revolutionize farming practices.
South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers underscored the importance of collaboration in addressing agribusiness challenges. “To confront the challenges facing agribusiness, we have to work together,” Weathers said. “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.”
Matthew Holt, dean of the Clemson University College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, highlighted the forum’s role in bridging the gap between academia and industry. “Fusing agriculture with applications of advanced technologies 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 this to convene to share information and best practices.”
The forum is organized by a consortium of key agricultural 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. This collaborative effort reflects the shared commitment to advancing South Carolina’s agricultural sector through innovation, technology, and strategic partnerships.
