U.S. soybean farmers depend on a reliable and efficient transportation system to move soybeans from the farm to their customers. The roads, rails and barges critical to the soybean industry are part of an aging infrastructure that faces delays, shutdowns and overcapacity issues.
United Soybean Board director Dwain Ford explains the current state of the U.S. transportation system.
“Many of our current locks and dams on the Mississippi and Illinois rivers are more than 50 years old and have had little or no improvements,” he said. “As this aging waterway system deteriorates, more pressure is on the rail and highway system to move our U.S. shipments.”
The deteriorating U.S. transportation system may also cause U.S. farmers to lose their competitive advantage in the global export market.
The Soy Checkoff, the American Soybean Association and the Soy Transportation Coalition work together to raise awareness of transportation issues and encourage investment in the U.S. transportation infrastructure.
For more information on why transportation is crucial to U.S. soybean farmers, visit UNITEDSOYBEAN.ORG.