Edgefield Soil and Water Conservation District

05/26/2026

Congratulations to Emerson Holmes and Mollie Bartley from Strom Thurmond High School. They each received the Bob Bowie scholarship given by the Edgefield County Soil and Water Conservation District.

05/21/2026

05/21/2026

SALUDA COUNTY LAND OWNERS
The South Carolina Forestry Commission
APPLICATION PERIOD OPEN FOR HURRICANE HELENE DISASTER RELIEF BLOCK GRANT

Hurricane Helene dealt a heavy blow to forest landowners across the western part of South Carolina in September 2024. Recognizing these losses, the South Carolina Forestry Commission and the South Carolina Department of Agriculture applied for and received funds from the US Department of Agriculture to help offset a portion of these losses.

SCDA began taking applications for the SC Disaster Relief Block Grant for Helene today. The block grant is designed to help offset some of the financial losses suffered by farmers and forest landowners due to Hurricane Helene. Losses eligible for assistance include infrastructure damage, market losses, future economic losses and timber losses. The SC Forestry Commission is overseeing the timber loss aspect of this grant.

Here are the basics regarding timber loss:

Property must be located in an eligible county (see green counties in attached map).

Property must have been owned by a private landowner on September 27, 2024.

Property must contain at least 10 contiguous acres of forestland with at least 15% of the trees with significant damage (broken main stem, blown over or major crown damage).

No restoration work is required — these funds are designed to help offset financial losses. Participation in other federal programs does not impact eligibility for this grant.

Loss valuations will be carried out by consulting/registered foresters and by SCFC foresters.

Forest landowners who meet the following criteria can apply online by visiting the SCDA website at https://agriculture.sc.gov/divisions/agency-operations/grants/helene/.

For more information about the block grant, eligibility, application process and more, please visit our website at scfc.gov/management/landowner-services/hurricane-helene-timber-block-grant.

04/30/2026

We had a great time at the 2026 Stewardship Week Field Day at Yon Family Farms in Ridge Spring, SC. This year's theme, “Soil. Where It All Begins”, highlighted the importance of soil conservation practices as we toured their farm which includes pastureland, cropland, irrigation ponds, and the pecan orchard. We would like to thank the SC Forage and Grazing Lands Coalition for the rainfall simulator presentation, the SC Department of Natural Resources-Conservation District, the SC Conservation Districts Foundation, the SC Association of Conservation Districts, Clemson University, and USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service for organizing such an informative event and a very special thank you to Mr. Kevin Yon and the entire Yon Family for sharing their beautiful farm with us.

04/14/2026

Register and come join us for a day of fun and learning at Yon Family Farms!

03/27/2026

Today, Rhonda Thomas (ESWCD) and Julia Cox (NRCS) had the pleasure of spending time in the classroom at W. E. Parker ElementarySchool with the 5th grade classes. We talked about “Soil. Where it all begins.” After learning about soil and the importance of soil conservation, the students made their own “Root Buddies”. By planting bean seeds in clear plastic bags they can see the root system develop as well as watch their seeds sprout and grow in their own little greenhouse. They decorated their bags with funny faces and even named most of them before leaving the classroom.

03/27/2026

SC Forestry Commission issued a Statewide Burn Ban that goes into effect at 4 PM today and will last until further notice

03/26/2026

Farmers share our roads. Let’s be courteous and careful when meeting tractors and equipment!

01/08/2026

The world has grown to prize money, oil, and gold, yet no amount of wealth can replace the importance of bees, trees, and clean water. These simple elements of nature sustain life in ways that cannot be replicated or replaced. Clean water is essential to health, trees provide oxygen and habitat, and bees are the backbone of our food systems, pollinating the plants that nourish us all.

As we advance into an increasingly industrialized world, it’s easy to forget that our survival depends on nature's resources. The message is clear: wealth lies not in what we accumulate, but in what we protect. By safeguarding these vital resources, we preserve the foundation of life for generations to come.

It’s time to rethink our priorities and recognize that the most valuable things in life can’t be bought—they are given to us by the earth. Protecting the environment means protecting ourselves, and ensuring a future that is sustainable for all living beings. 🌳💧