Virginia Grain Handling Practices and Corn for Poultry Litter Exchange Program

In the past twenty years the grain industry has experienced production declines in Virginia due to inability to compete with Midwestern grain producers. During this same time, consumption of grain by the poultry industry in Virginia has expanded rapidly. The levels of production and consumption of grain in Virginia are calculated and described on a state, regional, and county basis. Handling, storage, and marketing practices of grain in Virginia are assessed and described. Several different alternatives are presented and evaluated to determine their ability to improve the competitive position of Virginia corn with Midwestern states through the use of poultry litter to decrease production costs and present opportunities for producers to achieve better prices.