Agriculture is the primary industry in south carolina, with 25,000 farms across 4.7 million acres that contribute over $46 billion to the state's annual economy and provide over 247,000 jobs

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Clemson University $2.176 million under the Cooperative Forestry Research program (CFDA 10.202) on October 1, 2025.

Clemson University's Division of Research will conduct forestry research and related activities across South Carolina from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. Research programs address forest conservation through remote climatic data collection and management, techniques to enhance forest growth and quality including silviculture, harvesting operations, forest management, and forest health, and hydrologic and forest productivity processes along hydroperiods and salinity gradients. Wildlife management research will examine practices and policies affecting state wildlife species, with focus on health, environmental and ecological risks of species experiencing population decline or overpopulation. Work is performed at Clemson University's main campus and across six Research and Education Centers located throughout the state. The McIntire-Stennis program funds eligible state-certified institutions to increase forestry research in production, utilization, and protection of forestland and to train future forestry scientists. The program requires full expenditure of funds in the fiscal year of appropriation; however, up to 50 percent of the allocation may be carried over into the next fiscal year and must be fully expended by September 30 of the carryover year.

Forestry is also an important economic driver in SC, contributing over $21.2 billion annually. With diverse natural resources across the state, tourism is an additional economic force, accounting for expenditures of $24.4 billion annually. Supporting and improving the livelihood and quality of life for SC residents are what drive the programming and research focus for clemson university. The plan of work reflects research activities to benefit agribusiness, communities, and citizens of SC. The research is conducted on the main campus of clemson university and in each of the six research and education centers (RECS) located across the state. Focus areas include advancing the competitiveness of the agriculture and forestry, economic development, safeguarding the food supply, preserving natural resources, and preparing younger generations to become produ ctive citizens. Research programs to sustain conservation of natural resources include: 1) remote climatic data collection and data management on forests, 2) techniques to enhance forest growth and quality (silviculture, harvesting operations, forest management, and forest health), 3) hydrologic and forest productivity processes along hydroperiods and salinity gradients. Wildlife management research focuses on the practices and policies that affect the animals of the state, examining the health, environmental and ecological risks of wildlife species with declining population and overpopulation