South Carolina Data and Statistics - FIC

We’ve detected that you are using an outdated browser.

Please use a new browser like Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Microsoft Edge to improve your experience.

We’ve detected that you are using an outdated browser.

South Carolina Data and Statistics

Welcome to the South Carolina Statistics page. Here you will find frequently requested data specific to this state from AFT's Farms Under Threat: The State of the States report, the National Resources Inventory, the Census of Agriculture, and the Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement (PACE) program survey. You also can link to additional information and data sources.

On This Page

Farms Under Threat

National Resources Inventory

Census of Agriculture

Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement Programs

Other Data Sources

Farms Under Threat: The State of the States

All estimates represent figures for the Conterminous U.S.

Total and Agricultural Land Cover/Use

Data Item Acres
Total land area in 2016 19,844,900
Agricultural land in 2016 5,791,300
Cropland in 2016 2,640,100
Pastureland in 2016 1,049,400
Rangeland  in 2016 0
Woodland in 2016 2,101,800
Agricultural land in 2001 6,245,200

High-quality Agricultural Land

Data Item Acres
Nationally Significant agricultural land in 2016 2,836,300
Nationally Significant agricultural land in 2001 2,971,500
Best agricultural land in 2016 3,052,300
Best agricultural land in 2001 3,153,600

Nationally Significant agricultural land is the land best-suited to long-term, intensive crop production within the Conterminous United States; and each state’s “best land” is approximately the better half of all agricultural land in each state. For more information about these categories of high-quality agricultural land and how they were identified, see the interactive website for Farms Under Threat: The State of the States, and the fact sheet about AFT’s Productivity, Versatility, and Resiliency (PVR) Analysis.

Agricultural Land Converted from 2001-2016

Data Item Acres
Agricultural land developed or compromised 280,700
Agricultural land converted to urban and highly-developed land use (UHD) 84,000
Agricultural land converted to low-density residential land use (LDR) 196,700
Nationally Significant agricultural land developed or compromised 111,300
Nationally Significant agricultural land converted to UHD 31,000
Nationally Significant agricultural land converted to LDR 80,300
Best agricultural land developed or compromised 113,100
Best agricultural land converted to UHD 25,200
Best agricultural land converted to LDR 87,900

Learn More


2012 National Resources Inventory

1997-2002 2002-2007 2007-2012 1982-2012
Agricultural land converted to developed land (acres) 74,600 39,900 18,300 395,900
Agricultural land at the beginning of the reporting period (acres) 3,981,600 3,657,400 3,482,500 4,710,200
Prime agricultural land at the beginning of the reporting period (acres) 1,821,600 1,696,600 1,623,600 2,071,900
Forest land converted to developed land (acres) 230,900 134,600 83,500 922,400
Other land converted to developed land (acres) 6,200 2,400 5,400 35,000
Total surface area (acres) 19,939,300 19,939,300 19,939,300 19,939,300

Census of Agriculture

Data Item 2007 2012 2017
Farms 25,867 25,266 24,791
Land in Farms (acres) 4,889,339 4,971,244 4,744,913
Cropland (acres) 2,151,219 1,967,288 2,035,329
Permanent Pasture and Rangeland (acres) 617,136 633,296 573,421
Woodland (acres) 1,827,191 2,036,260 1,826,595
Land in Buildings (acres) 293,793 334,400 309,568
Total Land Area (acres) 19,844,887 19,844,887 19,844,887
All operators/All producers 37,082 37,060 39,332
All operators/All producers 34 and younger 2,496 2,450 2,737
All operators/All producers 65 and older 9,983 11,529 13,994
All producers with experience of 10 years or less on any farm 23,568
Principal producers 32,238
Principal producers 34 and younger 2,014
Principal producers 65 and older 12,365
Principal producers with experience of 10 years or less on any farm 8,670
Principal operators / Primary producers 25,867 25,266 24,791
Principal operators / Primary producers 34 and younger 1,079 1,097 1,290
Principal operators / Primary producers 65 and older 8,290 9,094 10,211
Primary producers with experience of 10 years or less on any farm 6,146
Market value of agricultural products sold $2,352,681,000 $3,040,069,000 $3,008,739,000
Average market value of agricultural products sold per operation $90,953 $120,323 $121,364
Market value of agricultural products sold directly to consumers $12,660,000 $27,375,000 $29,987,000
Market value of agricultural products sold directly to retail markets, institutions, and food hubs for local or regionally branded products $44,581,000

Notes on Changes to the 2017 Census of Agriculture

  • Producer characteristic data were collected for a maximum of four producers on each farm, up from a maximum of three producers in prior years.
  • Principal producer is a new term that identifies up to two main decision-makers on each farm, up from one principal operator in prior years.
  • Market value of agricultural products sold directly to consumers expanded to include value-added products.
  • Market value of agricultural products sold directly to retail markets, institutions, and food hubs for local or regionally branded products is a new data item.

 


Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement Programs

For summaries of PACE activity by state, use the links for the downloadable table or most recent fact sheets on the national statistics page under Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement Programs.


Other Data Sources

Visit American Farmland Trust

Get engaged and receive the information you need right in your inbox.