An Elverson-based farm is continuing its family tradition and possibly even expanding across the East Coast. Beam Farms Inc. is run by father (Bill) and son (Matthew) to continue their early legacy dating back to the early 1900’s, writes Chris Torres for FarmProgress.  

What was once 100-acres transformed to 4,000 acres as well as a sawdust business. Once a hog farm, the economy of the eighties forced the Beams to pivot. They let the barns, once occupied by 1,200 hogs at a time, stay empty.  

In the present day, the main crops are corn, soybeans, and wheat. Beam emphasizes the importance of keeping up with technology.

“You can’t hide anymore with all this data,” he said. “If you’re not going to keep up with technology, it will pass you by.” 

The sawdust business is also successful. It made $2 million in sales last year through creating sawdust and selling it to other farms and companies to use for pellets. In addition, the farm grows non-GMO grain for Whole Foods.  

Beam lost over 1,000 acres of tillable land because of development, but he hopes to continue the family business. Beam bought 300-acres on the Delmarva Peninsula in order to sustain the legacy of the farm.  

Read more about the Elverson-based farm on FarmProgress.  

How soybeans are grown and harvested.