In the News

The executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition says a third straight fall of low water levels on the Mississippi River is dealing a blow to ag transportation at a crucial time.

Mike Steenhoek tells Brownfield…

“In the six-month period of time between September and February, traditionally 80% of soybean exports occur during that period of time.”  He says, “We’ve got this significant harvest and so you want to be able to seamlessly move that into the supply chain without any kind of impediment.”

He says tow sizes are being reduced up to 40% on some areas of the river, and individual barges are being lightened.

“When that’s the result, you all of a sudden don’t have as economical of a supply chain as you normally would.”  He says, “And so, our competitive advantage diminishes in the international marketplace.”

Steenhoek says it shows the need for continued investments into the inland waterway system.

“We obviously need to maintain a very aggressive amount of dredging that the Army Corps of Engineers is orchestrating for us.”  He says, “They’ve had to do this these last several years, and this obviously needs to continue because the competitiveness of the American farmer is very much tied to this.”

He says substantial rainfall is needed in the upper Mississippi River watershed to help alleviate the issue.