Candidates for SC Agriculture Commissioner speak on data centers

Three Republican candidates vying for South Carolina's Commissioner of Agriculture — Fred West, Danny Lee Ford II, and Jeremy Cannon — addressed voters at a forum hosted by the Pickens County Republican Club. A key theme of the discussion centered on protecting agricultural land from various forms of development, including data centers. Fred West, a retired executive, emphasized the importance of preventing production agricultural land from being converted for data center usage or other developments, stating that such land, once out of production, never returns. Danny Lee Ford II, a grower and rancher, expressed opposition to all forms of development on farmland, including solar panels and data centers, and highlighted concerns about utility companies charging farmers peak rates while offering breaks to corporations. Jeremy Cannon, a fourth-generation farmer, advocated for protecting farmland, rural livelihoods, and water resources, suggesting data centers should be located in industrial areas rather than agricultural land. The fourth candidate, Cody Simpson, was not in attendance.