News

Soybean directors explore container shipments in Europe

Two Illinois Soybean Association farmer directors are in Europe exploring container shipping operations there that they believe can be adopted on a larger scale in Illinois.

Sharon Covert, who farms in Bureau County in northern Illinois, says container shipments of soybeans are being done on a small scale out of Joliet, Illinois. She’s observed that it makes economic sense…

“It’s really always the economics that drive the supply chain. So, if it isn’t economical they wouldn’t do it and they’re finding it very economical here in Europe.”

She says container shipments are becoming increasingly popular on the Rhine and Danube Rivers for customers and shippers.

Jeff Lynn, a family farmer in Oakford, Illinois is within 20 miles of the river system.  He says Illinois is blessed with ample waterways – and lots of containers coming in, being emptied out, and going back each week…

“This is a big project that I’m really excited about and it has a lot of opportunities for soybeans, for corn, for lots of products that farmers have available to sell.”

The directors are traveling this week with an ISA staff member and so far they have been in Austria, Switzerland, German, Denmark and will soon be in the Netherlands.