Richmond Times-Dispatch

Gazing at the three silvery grain elevators at the southern end of Richmond Marine Terminal that helped power Virginia’s $1 billion jump in agriculture exports, Gov. Glenn Youngkin had one question for the operator: “What would it take to get you to build another?”

Farm and forest exports from Virginia are booming, and a key reason is facilities like the Richmond port, Youngkin said, before taking a closer look at the Richmond port’s 121-acre facility where one of the Virginia Port Authority‘s Virginia Express barges was almost finished loading its 140 truck-trailer-sized containers.

Virginia agriculture exports rose to $5.1 billion last year, from $4.07 billion in 2021 and $3.22 billion in 2020.

China is the state’s biggest agriculture market, buying $1.45 billion worth of products last year. Soybeans and soybean meal are the state’s top exports, followed by pork. Read more HERE.