Page 24: of Marine News Magazine (October 2017)

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INLAND WATERWAYS

THE ‘AG COAST’ OF AMERICATHE ‘AG COAST’ OF AMERICA

St. Louis Region’s Agriculture Freight Network Poised for Growth as Handling Capacity Increases along a 15-mile section of the Mississippi River. ocated in the heartland of America, one 15-mile sec- cheaper rates to large barge-loading facilities that can turn tion of the Mississippi River in the St. Louis, Missouri, unit trains – carrying 110 to 125 railcars of grain and agri-

L region delivers the highest level of grain barge handling cultural product – in just a few hours. capacity anywhere along the Mississippi River. Known as “Barge loading and unloading capacity has expanded in the “Agriculture or Ag Coast” of America in terms of barge the St. Louis area to take advantage of these train rates and transfer facilities for agricultural products, local stakeholders barge freight rate adjustments,” said David Jump, presi- also know that in order to sustain and grow this impressive dent of Illinois-based American Milling. He added, “The market share, ongoing and future infrastructure investment four highest capacity grain barge loading facilities in the in multimodal interconnectivity is critical. entire inland waterway are in Cahokia, Illinois. Three of

As production and demand for commodities like corn the four were built in the past