NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD News) — A first-ever unit train of soybean oil from Nebraska signals that new crush capacity is creating larger domestic markets for farmers’ soybeans. The shipment also shows processors are building efficient links between rural plants and renewable fuel customers.
Ag Processing Inc. loaded the train at its David City plant, which opened in 2025 and can crush 50 million bushels annually. The facility can produce nearly 700 million pounds of soybean oil and connects with BNSF and Union Pacific service.
Unit trains can move large volumes more efficiently than small rail shipments, potentially lowering freight costs and expanding access to buyers. That could support regional soybean demand and basis as more processing comes online.
California remains a leading destination because five renewable diesel plants can produce about 1.7 billion gallons of renewable diesel annually. U.S. railroads moved an estimated 7.6 million tons of soybean oil in 2024, up from 5.5 million tons in 2020.
Processors will watch whether more crush plants adopt unit-train shipments. Wider use could strengthen domestic soybean demand, improve logistics, and create more value for farmer-owned cooperatives.
