S.C. Electric & Gas donated $25,000 today to Plant It Forward, an initiative to help farmers hard-hit by losses suffered in the wake of October’s devastating floods. The initiative by S.C. Advocates for Agriculture will provide relief funds to cover a portion of seed costs for 2016, as well as hay losses livestock farmers sustained because of the flood. State officials pegged total agricultural losses from last October’s flood event at more than $500 million, which has climbed from the initial estimate of $376 million offered weeks after the disaster. The S.C. Department of Agriculture reported significant crop loss on peanuts, cotton, soybeans and fall vegetable crops that were ready for harvest. “SCE&G is proud to partner with Commissioner Weathers and the South Carolina Advocates for Agriculture to support our South Carolina farmers,” said Keller Kissam, president of retail operations for SCE&G. “We are equally proud of South Carolina Farm Bureau and their effort to overcome the current challenges faced by our agricultural economy in the state of South Carolina.” Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers noted that many of SCE&G’s “customers are the very farmers these funds will go to help. Their donation showcases SCE&G’s commitment and loyalty to the communities they service." SCE&G provides electricity to approximately 698,000 customers in 24 counties in the central, southern and southwestern portions of South Carolina, many of those areas hit by October’s floods. The company also provides gas service to approximately 347,000 customers in 38 counties in the state. S.C. Advocates for Agriculture is a 501(c)(3) private relief fund organization for farmers severely impacted by the 2015 flood. The S.C. Department of Agriculture, Clemson University, S.C. Farm Bureau Federation and Palmetto Agribusiness Council are program partners. Source - charlestonbusiness.com