A lot of Iowa?s soybeans, particularly in the western part of the state, are crushed and processed into soybean meal and oil. After the meal is collected it is often put onto rail cars and sent to ports on the nation?s coasts for export. Mike Steenhoek, executive director with the Soy Transportation Coalition, says that one of those ports is the Port of Grays Harbor in Aberdeen Washington.
The Port of Grays Harbor facility has recently announced plans for a large expansion in order to handle more tonnage of soybean meal heading from the Midwest to trade partner countries.
Along with the expansion of the harbor?s shipping capacity the harbor is also in need of expansion and improvement of the rail facilities that deliver the meal to Aberdeen Washington. Several soybean farmer organizations have realized the potential for growth in this project and helped to invest in the infrastructure needed.
With the expansion of soybean processing and future planned expansion, Iowa farmers are realizing the growth opportunity that is in front of them in exporting soybean meal.
For more information visit http://www.soytransportation.org/
