Soy Transportation Coalition Executive Director Mike Steenhoek said the deepening of the lower Mississippi River is one of the main focuses of the STC moving forward.
A 256-mile stretch in the lower Mississippi accounts for about 60 percent of the country’s soybean exports.
“If I am asked what’s the No.1 infastructure project that would provide benefit to the largest degree of soybean and corn farmers this would be it,” he said. “You’re going to be able to load ships heavier with soybean or corn. That will save on the per bushel delivery price for our customers and what you’ll see is that farmers in the interior part of the country will benefit to the tune of about $461 million every year.”
The project, which would deepen part of the river to 50 feet rather than 45, would cost an estimated $245 million and would occur in three phases.