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Seaway incentive program expected to increase Michigan exports
The head of the Michigan Soybean Committee says a new partnership in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway is expected to incentivize ag export movement at ports.
Janna Fritz tells Brownfield the Gateway Incentive Program this shipping season is offering a 50 percent reduction on tolls for new shipments of soybeans and agricultural freight through the Seaway.
“We absolutely hope that this new partnership creates an opportunity to increase the supply chain diversity and resiliency for the benefit of all soybean farmers in Michigan and anywhere along the seaway,” she says.
Fritz says conversations are underway with the Port of Monroe, Port of Detroit, and Bay City to find ways additional ways to partner and expand exports.
“We have an opportunity to expand the value-added shipment that we can then export, not just whole soybeans going out of the state, but soybean meal, soybean oil,” she says.
Michigan last year produced more than 100 million bushels of soybeans, approximately half of which Fritz says is exported.
Great idea. But until you get Canada to expand the locks on the Welland Canal, boats will still need to top off in Baltimore or another East Coast port. Get both Michigan Senators “on board.”