eNews • July 2015
Promoting a Cost-Effective, Reliable and Competitive Transportation System

Register today – Ag Transportation Summit (August 4-5)

On Aug. 4-5, the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) and the Soy Transportation Coalition (STC) will host the second Ag Transportation Summit: “Transportation Capacity - Overcoming the Challenges.” The event, sponsored in part by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service, will be held at the Westin O'Hare near Chicago. The inaugural summit occurred in July 2013.

“U.S. farmers continue to demonstrate an ability to feed a growing and hungry planet,” says Scott Gauslow, a soybean farmer from Colfax, N.D., and chairman of the Soy Transportation Coalition. “However, in order to remain profitable, we must not only produce what customers demand but also be able to transport it to them in a cost effective, reliable manner. Many aspects of our transportation system are not positioned to do so. These challenges must be addressed.”

“This year’s summit will focus on strategies and steps being taken to enhance capacity and efficiency within all transportation modes - highway, rail, barge and ports - to meet the continued, growing demand for moving freight to both domestic and export markets,” said NGFA Chairman Gary Beachner, president and chief executive officer of Beachner Grain Co., Parsons, Kansas. “The U.S. transportation system remains a key competitive advantage for U.S. agriculture. But retaining that advantage requires a continued commitment and efforts by the leaders and stakeholders who will be part of this conference.”

The goals of the summit are:

1.) To raise the awareness of the importance of transportation to the success and profitability of U.S. agriculture;

2.) To precipitate and motivate further action to promote a transportation infrastructure that better serves the interests of U.S. agriculture;

3.) To provide a venue for advocates of U.S. agriculture to network and develop collaborations for the purpose of promoting the transportation needs of U.S. agriculture;

4.) To build bridges between government and agricultural interests that will result in more effective promotion of agricultural transportation issues.

Specific topics and issues to be addressed during the summit include:

  • Inland Waterways: The status of funding to upgrade locks and dams, and the potential timing of lock rehabilitation projects, as well as the significance of inland waterways to agriculture.
  • Rail Transportation: Efforts underway by rail carriers to enhance capacity to serve growing freight demand from agriculture and other sectors. Performance of rail in transporting agricultural products, Trends in rail infrastructure investment.
  • Surface Transportation: Challenges inherent in the current structure for funding improvements and maintenance of the highway system, as well as potential alternative financing arrangements. The status of potential changes to increase semi-truck weight limits, strategies for addressing the shortage of commercial truck drivers and hours-of-service restrictions.
  • Ports: Productivity and reliability concerns confronting the nation’s ports, needed investments and innovations at foreign ports.
  • Panama Canal Expansion: An update on the status of the expansion project and its implications for agricultural trade and U.S. ports.

The day and a half event will begin at 8 am on Tuesday, August 4, and conclude at noon on Wednesday, August 5.

Those wishing to participate in the summit can register at www.soytransportation.org or http://www.ngfa.org/upcoming-events/transportation-summit/.


The Soy Transportation Coalition is comprised of thirteen state soybean boards, the American Soybean Association, and the United Soybean Board. The National Grain and Feed Association and the National Oilseed Processors Association serve as ex-officio members of the organization.

Soy Transportation Coalition
1255 SW Prairie Trail Pkwy., Ankeny, Iowa 50023
Phone: (515) 727-0665 Fax (515) 251-8657
Email msteenhoek@soytransportation.org
Web www.soytransportation.org

Funded by the Soybean Checkoff