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Recent severe winter weather could further impact ag transportation system
The executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition says Winter Storm Fern could impact the efficiency of the U.S. supply chain for weeks to come.
Mike Steenhoek says cold temperatures and heavy snow accumulation are limiting the performance of railway and barge equipment.
“The degree to which those systems are well maintained, operable, and efficient makes all of the difference in whether or not our transportation system is an obstacle to farmer profitability or not,” he says. “It all depends on how efficient it is.”
He tells Brownfield ice is problematic because it narrows the shipping channels.
“It typically accumulates from the shoreline, which will have less waterflow. It obviously depends upon how quickly normal weather resumes and how much melting will actually occur.”
The National Weather Service says additional snowfall is expected across much of the Midwest through the rest of this week, with slightly warmer temperatures expected to start off the month of February.
AUDIO: Mike Steenhoek, Soy Transportation Coalition
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