Lawson chosen to lead state Farm Service Agency

Laurie Lawson has been appointed by the Obama administration as the South Carolina state executive director for the Farm Service Agency at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

This is a familiar role for the Darlington native, who served as state executive director during the Clinton administration.

“I’m very pleased to have the opportunity to again serve South Carolina farmers in rural areas of the state,” Lawson said during a telephone interview Monday. “I hope I can make a real difference in delivering the federal programs that they receive.”

Lawson has served the last eight years as assistant to the vice president of public service and agriculture at Clemson University.

“Laurie Lawson has a solid understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing our rural communities,” U.S. Agriculture secretary Tim Vilsack said in a news release. “He will help build on the Obama administration’s efforts to rebuild and revitalize rural America.”

Lawson served as chairman of the S.C. Agriculture Commission from 1979 to 1987. As chairman, he represented then-Gov. Dick Riley and advocated for rural South Carolinians on a national level.

Lawson has more than 50 years of experience with rural agricultural issues in the state. Lawson’s family has been in the farming business since 1834. He and his sons own and operate Lawson Farms in Darlington County.

The Farm Services Agency works to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural Americans. Some of the agency’s efforts include providing direct operating loans for farm equipment, seed and fertilizer, as well as rural housing loans to help rural people buy, build or rent housing.

FSA also procures various commodities to benefit low-income families through domestic food assistance programs. At the same time, the agency creates jobs by funding the growth and creation of rural businesses and cooperatives.

The USDA provides leadership on food, agriculture and natural resources.