The Equine Promotional Bill or “Nickel a Bag”

The basics of what this Bill is, what the benefits are, who will pay for it, why we as horse owners want it, and how the assessment differs from a tax. The key elements in this are that it is optional, Horse owners may opt out if they do not desire to contribute. Another key element is that the money will be used to help the SC horse industry. Lastly there will be a board in place to decide how the grants will be given. This board was looked at long and hard by SCHC. It will be made up of SC professionals in the horse industry as well as common horse owners. 
 
The Equine Promotional Bill’s purpose is to collect an assessment of $.05 per bag (hence the nickname “Nickel a Bag”) of feed sold for equine use, and to use these funds to promote the equine industry in South Carolina. The management of these funds will be administered by a board that is representative of equine professionals and owners across the state of South Carolina.  To give you an idea of the magnitude of funds we are talking about here, approximately 181,000,000 pounds of feed were sold in 2006 (Assumes approx 100,000 horses in SC & average of 5 lbs of feed per day). This would have generated about $180,000 to use for equine promotion.  While this is not an insignificant sum, it is not the huge sum that some folks have imagined it to be.  It is a great move in the right direction.

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This is a fund paid for by horse people, managed by horse people and distributed to the horse industry. There are numerous uses for this money some of which could be:

• additional scholarships to encourage youth who are involved with horses
• statewide educational clinics and materials for equine owners
• “seed” money for additional statewide arenas and arena improvement

• maintenance & enhancement of riding trails
• development and production of an original and reoccurring equine census
• informational and educational materials and programs
• encouraging development and growth of the equine industry
• encouraging research that would help the development of the equine industry
• improving interaction with state and local government agencies and any national agencies considered necessary for the improvement of South Carolina equine
• enhancing the general public's image and knowledge of South Carolina equine
• development of programs to improve disaster preparedness for health and bio-hazard evacuations in the State of South Carolina for equine

This Assessment has several key principles that differentiate it from a tax

Numerous equine owners and organizations are requesting this self-assessment (only of equine owners) to improve the equine industry in SC.
These funds will not go into the general Treasury funds but rather into a special equine promotional fund that will be managed and distributed by a board of equine people of which the majority will be elected by the equine people of SC.
These funds will be used for the sole purpose of promoting and supporting the equine industry in SC. Other similar organizations exist to promote beef cattle, poultry producers, and other agricultural based products.
 
To give you some legislative history this was approached back in the early 1990’s and again in 2007. Our current board, along with past members that worked on this in 2007, has reviewed the latest version. The South Carolina Horse Council is in full support of bill.  The goal is to introduce the bill in 2021. Those who have worked long and hard on this are eager to see it introduced.

We can make a difference if we work together.

The SC Equine Industry needs this Bill to pass. South Carolina is lagging far behind neighboring states that have already passed such a bill that is positively impacting their equine community as a result of it. The Equine community in SC is very diverse and segmented and consequently lacks the central revenue needed to broadly support the development of our industry.

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A quick synopsis of the Bill is as follows:

1. Equine feed manufacturers will be assessed $2.00 per ton of feed that they sell to retailers. This will amount to less than $2.00 per year per horse. This fee will be submitted to the Equine Promotional Fund and will be administered by the Equine Promotion Board.
2. Equine Promotion Board shall be established under the administration of the Department of Agriculture. The membership of the promotion board shall be composed of eleven members who have a direct association with the equine industry and operate and reside in this State.  The members of the board shall be appointed as follows:

(1) South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture shall appoint one member;
(2) Chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee shall appoint one member;
(3) Chairman of the House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee shall appoint one member;
(4) South Carolina Horsemen’s Council shall appoint one member;
(5) President of the South Carolina Farm Bureau shall appoint one member;
(6) The Director of SC Parks, Recreation and Tourism shall appoint one member;
(7) SC Veterinary Association shall appoint one member;
(8) Two at-large members with the appointment process being determined by the initial seven (7) appointees following the establishment of the Board;
 
   3. The board members will serve staggered terms of 2, 3, and 4 years.
  4. The funds collected shall be used for research, education and promotion for
      the purpose of supporting the equine industry.
 
This Assessment has several key principles that differentiate it from a tax:
 

1. Numerous equine owners and organizations are requesting this self-assessment (only of equine owners) to improve the equine industry in SC.
2. These funds will not go into the general Treasury funds but rather into a special equine promotional fund that will be managed and distributed by a board of equine people.
3. These funds will be used for the sole purpose of promoting and supporting the equine industry in SC. Other similar organizations exist to promote beef cattle, poultry producers, and other agricultural based products.

 
 Please contact your legislative representatives and let them know you are in favor of this bill. It will be a very small amount for each of us to pay, but can do much for our industry. Thank you for your support. We can make a difference if we work together.
 
Legislative contacts can be found at:
http://www.scstatehouse.net/html-pages/housemembers.html  or  http://www.scstatehouse.net/html-pages/houseemail.html
 
Thank you for your support,
 
South Carolina Horsemen’s Council
info@schorsemenscouncil.org

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Together We Can Make a Difference