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U.S. infrastructure: the good, bad and ugly

Mike Steenhoek

Soy Transportation Coalition executive director Mike Steenhoek says for all that’s wrong with the nation’s aging infrastructure, the U.S. remains the most economical choice for ag products on the international marketplace.

“Because of those investments that were made years ago, we are still able to get product from where it’s grown to its ultimate consumption-particularly if it’s in Asia-more economically than our competitors in Brazil and Argentina can.”

He tells Brownfield while the U.S. still has a good story to tell, the willingness to allocate resources today in exchange for value tomorrow is lacking.

“We’re looking at more immediate gratification, and we need to have more of that investment mentality.”

Steenhoek says as farming has evolved, U.S. infrastructure has remained primitive.

“When you look at our rural roads and bridges, it’s very reminiscent of what my father would’ve recognized growing up in rural Iowa.”

To stay competitive globally, he says the U.S. needs to make sure rural infrastructure keeps pace with all the innovation occurring within agriculture.

Brownfield spoke to Steenhoek at the Rural Infrastructure Summit in Ames, Iowa.

 

 

 

 

 

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