ArborOne Financial reported that South Carolina farm loans for young and beginning farmers grew 25% last year, a record uptick in lending to small and beginning farmers that was a large part of ArborOne's own 13.25% growth last year.

According to Don Boice, Vice President of Relationship Managers, "We see a new breed of farmer requiring new financial solutions. These young farmers need flexibility and we're one of only a handful of lenders that can provide South Carolina farm loans and mortgage loans with no limit on acreage."

Increasing demand for food specialization and sustainable agriculture, niche farming, and direct marketing are also making the small farm more viable. This combination of factors is attracting new entrepreneurs to South Carolina who are more likely to make use of technology, like computers and global positioning systems, and also to have a greater awareness of the environmental impact of their farming practices and business decisions. [News release]