Personal Injury Attorney in Greenville, SC.

Jeremy Cannon is a fourth-generation row-crop farmer in Clarendon County, where he and his family grow soybeans that get processed for meal in South Carolina and sold overseas.

Cannon loves what he does, but lately he’s felt existential pressure as the trade war has escalated between the U.S. and China, which in the past two years has bought more than half of American soybeans. Its refusal this year to buy any soybeans from the U.S. is costing farmers like him anywhere from $40,000 to $60,000 compared to last year.

For Cannon, that $1 per acre is the difference between being able to keep the lights on or not.

“It is difficult,” he said. “If you didn’t love farming … there's no way you'd wake up tomorrow and choose to do it.”

On Oct. 30, negotiations in South Korea with President Xi Jinping offered South Carolina farmers a glimmer of hope. Trump said Xi had authorized China to begin purchasing “massive amounts” of soybeans, sorghum and other farm products in addition to reductions in tariffs and a delay in Chinese restrictions on rare earth mineral exports.

“Our Farmers will be very happy!” Trump later wrote in a Truth Social post.

But whether China follows through remains to be seen. In 2020, the president signed a trade deal that committed China to purchase $200 billion of additional U.S. exports before Dec. 31, 2021, after a costly tariff war. China ultimately bought only 58 percent of the exports it had agreed to — and none of the additional requirements, according to the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

A new deal couldn’t come soon enough for Palmetto State farmers.

Soybeans are the state’s largest crop by acreage, primarily grown in the Pee Dee region. Top-producing counties include Horry, Florence, Williamsburg, Clarendon and Dillon. South Carolina harvested about 380,000 acres last year, producing over 12 million bushels that are shipped through Charleston's port and used locally for livestock feed.

But uncertainty remains about the sustainability of the industry as it’s become harder to earn a living growing soybeans.

In addition to lower market prices and rising costs for fertilizer and supplies, the state’s one processing plant in Kershaw closed in April because of cost-cutting measures, increasing shipping costs to Fayetteville, N.C., and lack of competition among buyers, Cannon said.

By his math, farmers could lose 20 to 30 cents on the product’s value. And while the president promised to reimburse farmers for trade losses — even floating the idea of reimbursing them from tariff revenue — that money had yet to materialize when Cannon spoke with The Post and Courier this week.

The Trump administration’s Department of Agriculture previously authorized up to $12 billion in financial assistance for farmers in 2018 affected by the trade war, where the U.S. suffered billions in losses.

U.S. Rep. Russell Fry, who represents the soybean-rich Pee Dee region, said he spoke personally with the president and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins this week about the challenges farmers are facing.

“The last administration failed to hold China accountable for deals that they previously made with the United States,” Fry said in an Oct. 30 statement to The Post and Courier. “President Trump’s new deal is a game changer for South Carolina farmers, particularly those who grow soybeans. This deal opens critical export opportunities, strengthens demands for American-grown farm products, and reinforces our commitment to fair trade that benefits South Carolina producers and rural areas.”

American soybean farmers have been following negotiations closely this time around for signs of renewed market access and stability, the American Soybean Association said in a statement. ASA advocates for U.S. soy farmers on policy and trade.

Caleb Ragland, ASA president and a soybean farmer from Magnolia, Ky., told the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee during a hearing Oct. 28 that farmers across the country are facing a worsening financial outlook driven by high production costs and shrinking operating margins.

“Commodity prices have fallen by an average of 50 percent since 2022, at the same time farm production costs continue to skyrocket,” Ragland said. “Soybean farmers are expected to net a $109 per acre market loss on their crop this year.”

He warned that input inflation — particularly for seed, fertilizer, pesticides, fuel and equipment — has become one of the greatest threats to farm viability.

That’s a problem, Cannon said, because the alternative is buying food overseas that is less regulated at higher prices.

Cannon voted for Trump in 2024. When asked if he believed Trump is delivering on campaign promises he made to farmers, he gathered his thoughts.

“I think we have to see the end to find out,” he said.

GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. —

Ennis Fant, a Greenville County councilman, was in front of the board of elections for a "hearing of elector's qualification," but the meeting ended in just a matter of minutes.

A frustrated Ennis Fant left the Greenville County Council chambers Thursday after an 'electors qualifications' hearing ended within minutes of starting.

"[Derrick Quarles] has to come down here and worry about the same residency I've had for 13 years. This is nothing new. I've had the same domicile residence for 13 years. He keeps talking about SLED. Sled found nothing," he said.

Derrick Quarles, who lost to Ennis Fant in his last election, called the meeting. But when the board of elections chairman asked if he wished to proceed, Quarles answered "no."

"I withdrew it because I'm going to resubmit it. Unfortunately, when I submitted this, I did not know all the rules and procedures, and I asked them several times about the rules and procedures," he said after the hearing.

Quarles cited a 2024 sled investigation that he says proves Ennis Fant doesn't live in District 25.

"[Investigators] got a subpoena for his phone records from Verizon Wireless. It's on record, showing he lives up at 4 Smoke Rise Court in Simpsonville, in Greenville. And that's where his phone is used more than anything. We also got a subpoena from Greenville Water, and I will get that to you also. And, it says that on it. It said in November of 2014, Enis Fant and Sarah Fant, relinquished their right to their water utilities from that residence in [district] 25," Quarles said. "I couldn't introduce it tonight because SLED is not here to talk about the report. It's hearsay."

Fant disagreed with Quarles' use of the investigation.

"I'm in real estate. I have more than one house. There are 11 requirements. You have to meet domicile requirements. You have to have a minimum of four. I have nine of the 11," he said. "I will be filing a lawsuit next week against him because nobody stops him. He's going to continue to aggravate me, aggravate me for the next three years. And I've had it. I've had it beat and run against me and win, not lose and harass me every week."

Quarles said he wants to be back in front of the Board of Elections about this.

"I'm going to resubmit, and once I can get SLED to agree, and hopefully it'll be sometime next week," he said.

WYFF reached out to SLED about the existence of that investigation and has not heard back yet.

The Greenville Symphony brings back its tailor-made version of Sergei Prokofiev’s classic “Peter and the Wolf,” with a tale transported from the forests of Russia to the woods of Upstate South Carolina.

Last year, the orchestra commissioned Broadway director Mark Waldrop to write a new version of the 1936 story-with-music about a boy who, with the help of his animal friends, sets out to capture a wolf — despite the warnings of his grandfather.

Local actress Mimi Wyche will return to narrate the tale, now set in Upstate South Carolina.

The orchestra will offer two performances at the Peace Center’s Gunter Theatre, Nov. 1-2. The concerts, both of which take place at 3 p.m., are appropriate for ages 7 and up.

“‘Peter and the Wolf’ is one of the great introductions to orchestral music — each instrument becomes a character, and every melody tells part of the story,” said music director Lee Mills. “I think most people can still remember listening to it as a kid. It makes such an impactful impression.”

The orchestra will also feature Waldrop’s original story set to the music of Edvard Grieg’s popular “Peer Gynt” Suite. The new tale, “The Adventures of RaeLynn and Luke,” centers on two young siblings who journey into the South Carolina woods and have an encounter with ogre-like creatures called gobblewalkers.

Back by popular demand

The orchestra premiered the two pieces with Waldrop’s new narratives last year. The two scheduled performances sold out, and a third concert was added.

The program is being brought back now by popular demand.

“This concert captures everything that makes our Gunter Theatre Series so special,” said the orchestra’s executive director, Jessica Satava. “Audiences are drawn in by the intimacy of the space, the artistry of our musicians and the magic of live narration. It’s a performance that connects generations through music and story.”

Waldrop, a writer and director for live theater, provided special material for Bea Arthur on Broadway and for Bette Midler’s Divine Millennium tour. He has made a specialty of co-writing and directing cabaret and concert appearances for performers including Sutton Foster, Brooke Shields and his longtime friend and collaborator Mimi Wyche. He is the writer and lyricist for the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular.

Want to go?

What: Greenville Symphony Orchestra: “Peter and the Wolf”

When: Nov. 1-2, 3 p.m.

Where: Peace Center Gunter Theatre

Tickets: $44-$64.90

Info: 864-467-3000 or peacecenter.org

GREENVILLE — Whether you want to go trick-or-treating or pick out the perfect pumpkin, there’s no shortage of fun and spooky activities in Greenville this fall.

Check out free Halloween-themed events at Greenville County Library, visit a haunted house or pick out the perfect butternut squash at T.D. Saturday Market downtown.

Here are five festive activities to try this autumn:

Moonlight Movies in Falls Park

When: Thursday, Oct. 30, 6 p.m.

Where: Falls Park on the Reedy, 601 S. Main St., Greenville

What: A double feature of “Monster House” and “Poltergeist,” along with food vendors, a flash mob, trick-or-treating and haunted movie trivia (with prizes!)

Denver Downs Farm Fall Festival

When: Sept. 26 - Nov. 9, Friday-Saturday

Where: Denver Downs Farm, 1515 Denver Road, Anderson

What: More than 35 fun-filled family activities for children of all ages, including a corn maze, a pumpkin patch, live weekend entertainment, farm animals and bonfires. Grab a snack at the Kettle Corn Barn, the Silo Canteen, Barnyard BBQ in the Picnic Barn, the Sweet Shack, the Corn Dog Shack or the Funnel Cake Barn.

Greenville Swamp Rabbits Halloween hockey games

When: Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, 7 p.m.

Where: Bon Secours Wellness Area

What: Cheer on the Greenville Swamp Rabbits for two nights of Halloween games: Oct. 31 vs. Orlando and Nov. 1 vs. South Carolina. Costumes are encouraged both nights, and the best costumes will be selected for a costume contest between game periods.

Greenville ghost tour

When: Assorted times

Where: Downtown Greenville

What: Greenville Ghost Tours offers a downtown walking tour led by paranormal investigator Gabe Mathews of Truth Searchers: Paranormal Investigators. This two-hour tour, which costs $25-$27, covers less than 2 miles and is designed to educate and entertain.

Boo in the Zoo

When: Oct. 15-19 and Oct. 22-30, 3-8 p.m.

Where: Cleveland Zoo, 150 Cleveland Park Drive, Greenville

What: The Greenville Zoo's annual family-friendly Halloween event is back for its 39th year with trick-or-treating and themed areas, including Pumpkinville, Dragon Alley, Ghost Town and an interactive light tunnel. Note: Guests planning to trick-or-treat must purchase a trick-or-treat upgrade during the online checkout process. Trick-or-treaters must bring their own bags. Check the website for updates on inclement weather.

GREENVILLE, S.C. —

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster held a news conference Tuesday to talk about the state's response to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits being halted on Nov. 1.

(Watch full news conference in video player above)

Last week, it was announced the benefits would be halted beginning in November due to the government shutdown.

In response, McMaster announced the activation of the Central Carolina Community Foundation's One SC Fund and directed the South Carolina State Guard (SCSG) to assist food banks statewide.

"While South Carolina cannot fully replace federal SNAP benefits, we can and we will step up to help our neighbors," said Gov. McMaster. "By activating the One SC Fund and with the assistance of the State Guard, we're supporting South Carolina families in need. In times like these, South Carolinians are eager to help, and I encourage those who are willing to donate to the One SC Fund or volunteer at your local food bank."

One SC Fund is a coordinated charitable giving campaign dedicated to providing direct monetary assistance to regional food banks and local feeding partners across the state. It's a statewide initiative supported by philanthropic donors and funders from across the state and country.

“The suspension of SNAP benefits will hit our children, seniors, and people with disabilities hardest,” said Georgia Mjartan, President and CEO of Central Carolina Community Foundation. “We are asking every corporation, foundation, and individual to step up now—so food banks can respond to this urgent need.”

McMaster also said the SCSG, an all-volunteer organization separate from the S.C. National Guard, will assist food banks and pantries with distribution operations, traffic flow, and in any other ways necessary to ensure these sites remain safe, orderly, and efficient as demand increases over the coming days.

“This is an opportunity for all of us to work together and take care of those in our state who need our help,” said Sheriff Leon Lott, Commander of the South Carolina State Guard. “The State Guard includes more than 400 men and women, trained and ready for missions like this. Our soldiers will be on the ground assisting food banks and ensuring operations are carried out safely and efficiently.”

According to the South Carolina Department of Social Services, there are more than 556,000 South Carolinians, representing 266,000 households, who received federal SNAP benefits in September 2025, totaling approximately $104 million. According to the South Carolina Department of Public Health, there are more than 900 food banks and pantries statewide.

More about One SC Fund:

The One SC Fund was established in 2015 to serve as South Carolina’s coordinated philanthropic response to disasters. Past activations of the fund have been in response to the Thousand Year Flood, Hurricanes Matthew, Florence, and Helene, and the COVID-19 Pandemic. The fund is administered by Central Carolina Community Foundation.

99% of all money donated to the One SC Fund is granted to nonprofits providing local assistance in South Carolina. The remaining 1% of money donated is directed to outreach, research, reporting, and the administration and oversight of grant contracts.