According to South Carolina’s Department of Agriculture, corn, cotton, hay, oats, peanuts, soybeans and wheat are among the state’s most important crops. South Carolina also produces an abundance of leafy green vegetables, including collard greens, turnip greens, kale and mustard greens. Most of the key crops of the state are grown in rows on large tracts of land.
Corn is an important cash crop with a variety of uses. In addition to being used to feed humans, corn is also used for animal feeds and the production of ethanol. The Clemson Cooperative Extension states that about 320,000 acres of corn are harvested within the state’s borders each year. While not as important as it once was, tobacco is still an important crop in South Carolina. Tobacco is largely grown in the northeastern part of the state.
South Carolina also produces an abundance of fruit. In most years, South Carolina produces the second most peaches of any state. Additionally, South Carolina consistently ranks in the top 10 watermelon- and tomato-producing states.
South Carolina’s warm and humid climate is also well suited for producing ornamental plants and other landscaping species. When combined, the floral, turf, nursery and greenhouse agricultural industries account for $300 million in annual sales.
