The South Carolina Farm Bureau Marketing Association Grain Elevator has officially completed a multimillion-dollar expansion that nearly doubled its grain storage capacity and added new office and warehouse space. The project is a partnership through the Growing Agribusiness Fund administered by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture.
“South Carolina farmers are experiencing very difficult financial times, so it is more important than ever that we continue to find ways to support them,” said SCFB President Harry Ott. “With the uncertainty of international markets and the recent closure of the only soybean processing facility in the state, the Anderson Grain Elevator is critical to helping provide sustainability to our state’s grain farmers. We are thankful for the partnership with SCDA through the Growing Agribusiness Fund, and we hope to continue to serve the farmers of South Carolina for many years to come.”
The project included: three- 90,000-bushel grain bins; 2,000-bushel grain dryer; 25,000-bushel wet tank; an unloading pit; two load-out bins; and the construction of a nearly 12,000- sq. foot building to be used as an office, warehouse and retail store. The elevator now has a 610,000-bushel storage capacity.
“Expanding market access and creating more flexibility for South Carolina farmers are essential to the future of farming in our state. We’re proud to be a partner in this expansion through the Growing Agribusiness Fund,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers.
The only grain elevator in a 100-mile radius, the SCFB elevator is an important resource for area farmers. Previously, the elevator served farmers in 13 upstate counties. Now that construction is complete, the elevator has the capacity to serve up to an additional nine counties across the state.
Originally constructed in 1950, the grain elevator was purchased by the South Carolina Farm Bureau Marketing Association in 1967. A subsidiary of South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation, the Marketing Association was officially chartered on December 12, 1961 as an added benefit to members in connection with the production, marketing or selling of agricultural products.
South Carolina Farm Bureau is a grassroots, non-profit organization that celebrates and supports family farmers, locally grown food and our rural lands through legislative advocacy, education and community outreach. The organization, founded in 1944, serves nearly 90,000 member families in 47 chapters. For more information, please visit www.scfb.org.