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Harsh winter taking toll on transportation infrastructure

A harsh winter has and will continue to make the movement of agricultural goods difficult.

Soy Transportation Coalition executive director Mike Steenhoek says barge traffic on inland waterways has been impeded by large amounts of snow and ice.

“When you’ve got a lot of water like this, it really can (cause) some significant damage on all of our modes of transportation.”

He predicts issues with the supply chain will worsen as the snow melts.

“It could be a delay in receiving fertilizer deliveries. It could be a challenge for an elevator having the ability to ship outbound by barge because it’s all kind of synchronized.”

Steenhoek tells Brownfield logistical problems could result in higher input prices or wider basis levels at a time when margins are already very tight for many farmers.