ISA » Transportation

Protecting Market Pathways

Situation Snapshot

Historically, the efficient and well-maintained roads, bridges, railways and waterways in the United States have given our nation's soybean growers an advantage over growers in other countries. As a major hub for river, railway and highway transport, Illinois offers even greater transportation advantages than most states.

Transportation Fact Sheet (PDF)

However, our state's transportation advantage is weakening due to an aging infrastructure. As state budgets are stretched further than ever, repairing roads, bridges, railways and waterways can quickly become a low priority for local and state officials. When transportation infrastructure is in poor condition, associated travel restrictions and delays cost producers, processors and end-customers money.

For example, the current inadequacies of the Illinois transportation system are resulting in as much as $1 to $2 per bushel additional expense for soybean producers, depending on how far the soybeans are traveling, and in what form. At an average yield of around 50 bushels per acre, Illinois producers can see as little as one additional penny per acre to as much as $50 to $100 extra per acre of transportation costs.

Transportation underpins every aspect of the Illinois soy industry from farms, grain elevators and soybean processors to livestock operations, food processors and export companies. Partnership and collaboration among everyone is essential to ensuring a healthy transportation infrastructure in Illinois.

Funded in part by the Illinois soybean checkoff, the ISA is helping counteract the growing threats to efficient soybean transportation in Illinois and the rest of the U.S. Together with the Soy Transportation Coalition (STC) - a group including 10 soybean-producing states, the American Soybean Association and the United Soybean Board - ISA is working to ensure the U.S. transportation system has the infrastructure and capacity necessary to keep the soybean industry competitive long term.

Learn More

		Roads and Bridges Many Illinois roads and bridges are in disrepair, forcing farmers to take alternate routes when transporting soybeans.		Railways More than 7,000 miles of railroad tracks connect Illinois to domestic and international soybean customers, bringing in billions of dollars of revenue a year.
		Waterways Illinois has more than 1,000 miles of navigable rivers over which soybeans are shipped.		Containers and Intermodal Transportation New research shows the potential profitability of shipping soybeans using containers.
		What You Can Do Read about how you can help inform and educate others about Illinois' transportation infrastructure issues.		Additional Resources These helpful links and other materials provide additional information on soybean transportation.

We also encourage you to find out about other transportation issues in the news by reading our press releases.

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The Illinois Soybean Program Operating Board (ISPOB) manages and invests soybean checkoff funds.
Separately, the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) administers legislation and membership programs.