ISA » Transportation » Waterways

Barge transportation is the most economical and most environmentally friendly way to move U.S. soybeans to foreign and domestic markets. Illinois has more than 1,000 miles of navigable rivers and more than 300 manufacturing facilities, terminals and docks that ship and receive tonnage via water. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. Illinois Waterways

Illinois' Antiquated Waterways

The existing lock system has been operating since the Great Depression and has not been adequately rehabilitated or substantially improved since then. This has led to a steep rise in unscheduled lock closures due to maintenance and hardware malfunctions. In addition, many lock chambers are now too small to accommodate the average tow of 15 barges.?

Insufficient funding for river dredging is another problem hindering efficient waterway transportation. The Wall Street Journal reported the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can no longer guarantee dredging of key parts of the Mississippi River navigation channels to required widths and depths. Inadequate dredging increases transportation costs and delays because shippers are forced to lighten their cargo loads to safely navigate the river.¹

Crucial Waterway Maintenance Is Needed

Deteriorating locks and dams and silt-filled waterways cause delays and inefficiencies. The results are higher costs all the way down the transportation line, ending with a lower margin per bushel for farmers. Without necessary upgrades and repairs, the competitive gains from the extensive Illinois waterway system will be lost.

Illinois' Soybean Industry Is in Danger

Without repairs to waterways and the lock system, Illinois stands to lose what it has built through soybeans:

• The 64 percent of soybeans transported out of Illinois using barges² would have to be moved via the already overloaded rail and road systems.
• Animal feed manufacturers, livestock operations and bean processors throughout the U.S. would have to source their soybeans from more reliable areas.
• The U.S. would struggle to move enough soybeans to major harbors like New Orleans to meet the demand from overseas customers in Asia, Mexico and Europe, and would ultimately lose market share to international soybean producers.
• An additional 58 million truck trips per year³ would congest road systems already heavily used by agriculture and other industries.

Take Action

Waterways play an important role in efficiently delivering Illinois soybeans around the country and overseas, but necessary improvements won’t be made without your support. Check out the "What You Can Do" page for waterway resources and information on how you can make your voice heard.

¹"Silt Buildup Muddies Trade on River" by Cameron McWhirter, Wall Street Journal, July 5, 2011
²Scott Sigman Email, June 23, 2011
³Waterways Council, Inc.