Transportation & Infrastructure

ASA supports directing federal infrastructure funding toward improving transportation systems to move soybeans to market, including locks and dams and rural roads and bridges.

Soy Action Center

The U.S. soybean industry relies on a multimodal transportation network including truck, rail, and waterways to move product to market. A strong supply chain built on reliable infrastructure is the largest advantage for American soybean farmers over competitors abroad.

The U.S. inland waterways system includes nearly 12,000 miles of navigable waters and hundreds of aging locks and dams—the majority of which have exceeded their originally engineered 50-year lifespans, including those on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. The inland waterway system is key to maintaining U.S. competitiveness with Brazil, the world’s largest exporter of soybeans. The inland waterways system remains the most cost-effective and efficient way to transport agricultural products to export terminals. While several recent legislative wins have helped secure new and increased funding to help improve infrastructure along the inland waterways system, much of the infrastructure along our waterways remains outdates and requires continued advocacy to secure the funding and authorizations needed to address the construction backlog.

Much like the aging locks and dams on the inland waterways system, aging roads and bridges hinder the ability of soybean growers to move their product to market in a cost-effective manner. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provided new and expanded funding for highway and road repair projects across the country. Additionally, it included funding for a pilot project that seeks to support bioproducts like soy-based transportation related construction materials.

 

Photo Courtesy of USB

ASA specifically supports:

  • Increasing the federal component of the cost-share ratio of Inland Waterways Trust Fund projects to further accelerate timeframe for completion of upgraded locks on inland waterways.
  • Continued appropriations for Navigation Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP) navigation and ecosystem restoration projects, which includes locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi & Illinois River system.

Issues Background

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and community project funding (earmarks) have vastly increased funding for NESP projects, which includes locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers system. Among other projects, the IIJA funded Lock & Dam 25 to completion—a top priority for ASA.

Over the past several years, Congress has passed Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) legislation biennially. WRDA is the federal vehicle used to authorize projects and implement policy changes that impact American ports, harbors, and inland waterways. Since the 2014 WRDA, increases in the barge fuel fee and increases in annual appropriations have served to reduce the timeframe for completion of the long-standing, currently authorized inland waterways projects. Additionally, since 2014, the annual Energy & Water appropriations bill has provided increased and record funding levels for the IWTF and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Operations & Maintenance accounts. The IWTF is funded by a 29 cent per gallon barge fuel fee, which is paid by industry, including soybean farmers. The IWTF revenues are matched with funds from the general Treasury for a 6550/3550 cost-share of projects. In recent years, Congress has changed the cost share ratio for specific projects to 85/15 or 75/25 to accelerate their funding and completion. ASA believes that shifting the cost share to even a permanent 765-235 ratio would ensure the IWTF continues operating at the same funding level that has been achieved the last six years and could enable currently authorized projects to be completed in a more rapid timeframe. The global competitiveness of U.S. soybeans would benefit from this additional federal investment to accelerate the completion of inland waterway infrastructure projects.

ASA applauds Congress and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for prioritizing the deepening of the Mississippi River Ship Channel (MRSC). ASA appreciates federal support of this project, which will significantly benefit the competitiveness of the U.S. soybean industry and individual farmer profitability when complete. This dredging project, which officially commenced on July 31, 2020, is the result of strong partnerships among USACE, the state of Louisiana, soybean farmers, and a large coalition of stakeholders. The 256-mile stretch of the Mississippi River from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to the Gulf of Mexico accounts for 60% of U.S. soybean exports, along with 59% of corn exports–easily the top export region for both commodities. Soy Transportation Coalition research highlights that when the MRSC is dredged to 50 feet, shipping costs for soybeans from Mississippi Gulf export terminals will decline 13 cents per bushel ($5 per metric ton). This is because a deeper river allows both use of larger ships and current ships can be loaded with more revenue-producing freight. Even soybean-growing states further from the river will benefit from increased modal competition between rail and barge.

  

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