Floods in the north, hurricanes in the south and limited international trade opportunities due to ongoing government negotiations — these factors and more are putting pressure on ag producers and shippers alike in 2019.

“I don’t think I’ve ever experienced this level of uncertainty ahead of a harvest,” said Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition (STC). “Being able to project what the harvest volumes will be and what our infrastructure can handle is more uncertain than I’ve ever...