The South Carolina Farm Bureau Marketing Association Grain Elevator broke ground today on a multimillion-dollar expansion that will nearly double its grain storage capacity and add 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 Farm Bureau has always been committed to supporting the farmers of the Palmetto State, and the Anderson Elevator is a critical piece of infrastructure that provides a market upstate farmers wouldn’t have otherwise,” said SCFB President Harry Ott. “We are excited to work with SCDA on this project that will continue to grow the leading industry in South Carolina – agriculture.”
Plans for the project include: 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. When complete, the elevator will have a 610,000-bushel storage capacity .
“The Anderson Elevator expansion by South Carolina Farm Bureau will allow more upstate South Carolina farmers to have ready access to markets,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers. “This project is a great example of how we’re supporting South Carolina’s agribusiness industry using the $40 million allocated to the Growing Agribusiness Fund by the South Carolina legislature.”
The only grain elevator in a 100-mile radius, the SCFB elevator is an important resource for area farmers. Currently, the elevator serves farmers in 13 upstate counties. Once construction is complete, the elevator will have 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.
Construction is underway and is set to be completed by early 2025.
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 95,000 member families in 47 chapters. For more information, please visit www.scfb.org.