Agricultural News
United Soybean Board Project Sets Stage for Mississippi River Dredging Deeper Channels Show Potential to Deliver Deeper Profits for U.S. Soy Farmers
Wed, 10 Jul 2019 05:33:37 CDT
The United Soybean Board's commitment to improve market conditions for farmers hits a new bottom the Mississippi River bottom. USB has approved funding to support environmental assessments (research) and education of this important improvement to our infrastructure system located near the Port of New Orleans.
"Every decision we make at USB is led by the driving interest in improving market opportunities for U.S. soy," said Keith Tapp, USB Chair. "Our exploratory research on deepening the Mississippi River ship channel has the potential to improve global competitiveness and capabilities, which in turn makes it easier to deliver our product to customers and enhance farmer profitability."
The project sets the foundation needed to improve the draft of the lower Mississippi River from 45 feet to 50 feet. According to a report by the Soy Transportation Coalition, the change would increase the competitiveness of the leading export region for U.S. soybeans. The current depth of 45 feet on the lower Mississippi River is typically dredged to at least 47 feet to ensure the vessels do not hit the bottom of the riverbed. The report concludes that deepening the channel to 50 feet will allow a load increase from 66,000 metric tons to 78,000 metric tons, saving upward of $20 per metric ton when loading greater volumes onto one ship. The savings are expected to translate to a margin of 13 cents per bushel for barge river elevators exporting soybeans and increase revenues by $461 million.
USB is providing $2 million to help offset the research, education and promotion costs related to the project. The American Soybean Association, the Soy Transportation Coalition and several state soybean groups are also partnering to carry the project beyond USB's initial investment. The physical work to dredge the river would ultimately be paid by state (25%) and federal (75%) governments. Project work would begin after federal funding is secured.
"The Mississippi River is the top exit spot for U.S. soy," said Tapp. "Maintaining and expanding our international customers will require enhancing each link in the supply chain. This is a great example of the entire soy industry working together to reach a shared goal that carries significant benefits for all farmers."
USB's 73 farmer-directors work on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers to achieve maximum value for their soy checkoff investments. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds in programs and partnerships to drive soybean innovation beyond the bushel and increase preference for U.S. soy. That preference is based on U.S. soybean meal and oil quality and the sustainability of U.S. soybean farmers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.
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