The agricultural supply chain has suffered in recent years. “When over half of what is produced in the soybean industry is exported, we’ve got to have a transportation system that is cost-effective and reliable,” explained Mike Steenhoek, executive director, Soy Transportation Coalition. At the Minnesota Grain and Feed Association Annual Meeting, Steenhoek called for a proactive approach, not a reactive strategy. Low water levels on the Mississippi River were used as an example. “In 2022, our country was very reactive in disseminating dredging vessels to maintain the depth of that shipping channel,” said Steenhoek. “That became harder to do due to low water levels. In 2023, we got ahead of that by working with the Army Corps of Engineers.” Even with comparable drought conditions the previous year, river transportation was less disruptive in 2023.
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