News

Soy leader pleased with 2020 Mississippi River work plan

The Soy Transportation Coalition’s Executive Director says the 2020 Army Corps of Engineers’ work plan is very welcome news for soybean farmers because it includes making the lower Mississippi River channel deeper. Mike Steenhoek tells Brownfield, “For soybeans, we estimated you could put 500-thousand additional bushels of soybeans per vessel, and you’d also be able to attract some of these larger vessels that have really become more the norm in the global economy.”

Steenhoek says the Army Corps of Engineers will begin dredging 256 miles of channel downstream from Baton Rouge, Louisiana from 45 feet to 50 feet to accommodate larger loads and even larger ocean-going ships.  Steenhoek says that helps farmers upstream by lowering transportation costs and improving the basis. “One of the things we routinely see in agriculture is when transportation costs go up or they go down, they’re often reflected in that basis that farmers experience so we think farmers will really benefit from this.”

Steenhoek says 60% of all soybean and 59% of corn exports begin downstream from Baton Rouge.

The Army Corps of Engineers 2020 civil works appropriations work plan also includes funding for a flood risk management study in the lower Missouri River basin and construction funding for the Olmstead locks and dam on the Ohio River.  Dredging is also planned for Mobile Harbor, Alabama.