The United Soybean Board recently pledged $2 million to deepening the lower Mississippi River.

The project, set forth by stakeholders, will cover a 256-mile stretch, starting near Baton Rouge, Louisiana and ending by the Gulf of Mexico. Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition, shares why this stretch of waterway was chosen.

“That accounts for 60-percent of U.S. soybean exports (and) 59-percent of corn exports, (which is) by far the number one export region for both commodities,” Steenhoek said. “There’s been a long-standing effort among stakeholders to deepen that stretch of the River from 45-feet, the federal authorized depth, to 50-feet. When you add five-feet, you’re able to take the ocean vessels, which handle our exports and load them heavier with grains or other commodities. You can (also) attract larger ships. The result of is it makes your industry more competitive.”

Read the full article on the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network website.