The Dillon County Farm Bureau meeting was held on Monday, September 19, at a local restaurant. The guest speaker was Rep. Jackie Hayes. Below is a link to the video:

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By Betsy Finklea
The Dillon County Farm Bureau held their annual meeting on September 19 at a local restaurant.
President Keith Allen gave the call to order followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Caleb Miller.
After dinner, Allen recognized the guests in attendance.
A.V. “Vic” Bethea, III, read the minutes which were approved. Tommy Stephens gave the Treasurer’s report.
Allen then gave the President’s report highlighting some of the activities from the past year.
Cullen Bryant gave the report of the nominations committee.
Nominations included:
2016-2017 OFFICERS OF DILLON COUNTY FARM BUREAU:  President: Keith Allen, Vice President: Cullen Bryant, Executive Secretary: A.V. (Vic) Bethea, Treasurer: Tommy Stephens, State Director: Cullen Bryant and Alternate State Director: A.V. (Vic) Bethea
2017 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Keith Allen, A.V. (Vic) Bethea, Joseph Gleason, Cullen Bryant, Tommy Stephens and Danny Arnette.
2017 DIRECTORS:  Timmy Arnette, Gerald Arnette, Randy Berry, Caleb Coleman, Bruce (Sonny) Price Jr., Daniel Baxley, Fitzhugh Bethea, Lavern Brigman, Curt McSwain, Joe Hayes, Carroll Allen, Daniel Coleman, Tre Coleman, Harold Gasque, and Wesley Price.
2017 COUNTY COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Legislative & Public Affairs Chairman, Cullen Bryant.  Young Farmer Committee Chairman, Caleb Miller.
Bethea gave the report of the resolutions committee.
The national, state, and local resolutions are printed verbatim as presented in the handout:

DILLON COUNTY FARM BUREAU RESOLUTIONS
2016-2017
NATIONAL
1. We recommend that all U.S. Congressional districts be redrawn in a way that is fair and equitable to all constituents in each district, using County lines when possible.
2. We support the development of alternative fuels derived from the production of agriculture products, with special emphasis given to Soy Diesel and Ethanol.
3. We feel that any bonafide farmer should be able to participate in USDA programs regardless of their adjusted gross income.
4. We continue to support Federal Crop Insurance system. (risk management) We support a minimum funding level equal to the 2014 levels.
5. We recommend that South Carolina Farm Bureau work with other groups (soybeans and cotton etc.) to establish a realistic RMA and FSA final planting date.
6. We feel that the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) are adequate to provide safety for workers and commodities.
7.  We recommend that the Federal Employment Commission implement a system that requires a temporary employee sign a statement that if a job is temporary he is not eligible for unemployment compensation. Temporary would be considered 120 days of continuous employment.
8. We encourage Congress to include in the 2019 Farm Bill provisions for a disaster program for production agriculture including row crop farms.
9. We encourage Congress to include Cotton as a covered commodity in the 2019 Farm Bill.
10. We oppose any unrealistic increase in minimum wage requirements.

DILLON COUNTY FARM BUREAU RESOLUTIONS
2016-2017
STATE
1.  We encourage the DOT to improve maintenance on secondary and rural roads, to include cleaning right away, maintaining adequate surfaces and maintain ditches.
2. We urge the South Carolina Employment Security Commission to evaluate the criteria for paying unemployment benefits to ensure that only those deserving of payments are included.
3. We encourage our Legislature to enact legislation what would give tax credits to Manufacturers of Bio Diesel and Ethanol in the State of South Carolina.
4.  We encourage DOT to consider the adverse effects that I-73 will have on farming operations throughout the State. We recommend that any farm divided by the Interstate have access to each field without traveling more than four extra miles.
5. We encourage SC Department of Agriculture to implement a used pesticide containers disposal program that would help farmers in each county dispose of their containers, in a responsible manner, and recycle when possible.
6. We recommend Clemson have no less than one agent per two counties.
7. We recommend that South Carolina Farm Bureau work with other groups (soybean and cotton etc.) to establish a realistic RMA and FSA final planting date.
8. We support the continuation of the Department of Ag collection of unwanted and out dated pesticides.
9. We urge Dillon County Council to work in cooperation with the South Carolina Department of natural Resources, Clemson University, the South Carolina Department of Agriculture and USDA agencies to develop a program to control the increasing beaver, wild hogs and coyote population affecting Dillon County land owners.
10. We recommend the increase of the use on highway fuels to improve roads and bridges.
11. We recommend that the SC Employment Commission implement a system that requires a temporary employee sign a statement that if a job is temporary he is not eligible for unemployment compensation. Temporary would be considered less than 120 days of continuous employment.
12. We recommend that the SC Department of agriculture set up standards for testing and monitor the procedures for the vomitoxin and any other micotoxin. We also ask the companies testing for these toxins be required to disclose the intent of the test in the contract so that farmers are not caught off guard.

DILLON COUNTY FARM BUREAU RESOLUTIONS
2016-2017
COUNTY AND LOCAL
1. We urge that law enforcement authorities and court systems of Dillon County take a stronger stand against drug trafficking, gang activity and other illegal activities.
2. We commend the Sheriff’s Department for their efforts in enforcing the county’s litter laws and the illegal dumping of trash on private property.
3. We recommend that three (3) members of the Dillon County Farm Bureau Board meet with the Dillon County Development Board Chairman to explore any and all possibilities for attracting agricultural related industries to Dillon County.
4.  We urge Dillon County Council to work in cooperation with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Clemson University, the South Carolina Department of Agriculture and USDA agencies to develop a program to control the increasing beaver, wild hogs and coyote population affecting Dillon County landowners.
5. We encourage Dillon County Council to have specified Recycling Sites for Pressure Rinse/ Triple Rinse pesticide containers on selective days during the normal use seasons.
6.  We encourage and support a very active FFA, Ag, and 4-H program in each high school in Dillon County.
7.  We strongly oppose the consolidation of school districts in Dillon County.
8.  We encourage DOT to consider the adverse effects that I-73 will have on farming operations throughout the State. We recommend that any farm divided by the Interstate have access to each field without traveling more than four extra miles. In addition, the I-73 project should not create a detour in excess of 4 miles.
9.  We commend the Sheriff and his office for their great work even in bad economic times. Theft of farm equipment and chemicals has increased. We could ask that the offenders be prosecuted to the fullest extent when convicted.
After the resolutions, Bryant introduced the guest speaker, Rep. Jackie Hayes.
Rep. Hayes, who has represented Dillon County since 1998, said that many of his colleagues didn’t understand what farming is all about. He said he tries to do what is right, and he is an independent thinker.
He said almost $1 million came into Dillon County in the farm aid approved by the legislature.
Hayes spoke about all that went in to trying to get the $40 million in aid for the farmers. He said $4 1/2 million is left, and at a recent House budget briefing, he suggested that they use the leftover funds to help farmers in some way.
He also spoke about taxes. He said only 40 percent of the people in the state pay all of the income taxes and this is something that has to be addressed. He said the legislature missed the boat when they had the opportunity to implement a sales tax on gas to help improve the road situation.
He spoke about the inland port and Wyman-Gordon and thanked Dillon County Council for bringing those here.
Hayes said to bring industry to the county and to bring people to the county, it is going to cost money. He said he wanted the quality of life here to be better for his children and his grandchildren than it was for him.
He also spoke about seniority and the value of relationships in the legislature.
After Hayes’ comments, the meeting adjourned.