This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
7/26/2013
A bumper crop of wheat in southern states has led to booming export business at the Port of Brunswick, Ga.Increased marketing to overseas domestic grain buyers has contributed to a growing confidence among Georgia farmers to plant more wheat, according to the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA). Georgia farmland dedicated to wheat production grew from 230,000 acres in 2012 to 350,000 in 2013. Statewide production jumped 70.8 percent, from 11.27 million bushels in 2012 to 19.25 million bushels this year. As a result, GPA officials predict the port will handle between 90,000 and 100,000 tons of wheat this year. The port has about 60,000 tons of wheat in storage and still is receiving shipments. Although most of the exported wheat was produced by Georgia farmers, shipments also are being received from Florida, Alabama and South Carolina. The first wheat-carrying vessel of the year departed the port yesterday, carrying more than 32,000 tons of wheat destined for Mexico, according to a GPA press release.