The South Carolina Farm Bureau Marketing Association has completed a multimillion-dollar expansion of its Anderson grain elevator, nearly doubling storage capacity to support farmers facing challenging market conditions.
Expansion addresses farmer needs
The project increased the facility’s storage capacity to 610,000 bushels through the addition of three 90,000-bushel grain bins, a 2,000-bushel grain dryer, a 25,000-bushel wet tank, an unloading pit and two load-out bins. The expansion also includes construction of a nearly 12,000-square-foot building for office, warehouse and retail operations.
“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.”
Partnership enables growth
The expansion was funded through the Growing Agribusiness Fund administered by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture. Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers emphasized the project’s importance for farmer flexibility.
“Expanding market access and creating more flexibility for South Carolina farmers are essential to the future of farming in our state,” Weathers said. “We’re proud to be a partner in this expansion through the Growing Agribusiness Fund.”
Extended service area
As the only grain elevator within a 100-mile radius, the facility serves as a critical resource for area producers. The expansion allows the elevator to extend service from its current 13 upstate counties to an additional nine counties across the state.
The facility was originally constructed in 1950 and purchased by the South Carolina Farm Bureau Marketing Association in 1967. The Marketing Association, a subsidiary of South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation, was chartered in 1961 to provide member benefits related to agricultural production and marketing.
South Carolina Farm Bureau, founded in 1944, serves nearly 90,000 member families across 47 chapters through legislative advocacy, education and community outreach supporting family farmers and rural communities.
