More than 100 U.S. soybean farmers took part in the Soy Transportation Coalition’s recent trade trip to the Panama Canal. Coalition Executive Director Mike Steenhoek says soybeans are the number one commodity shipped through the current Canal. However, the expansion of this export channel will be completed in spring of 2016 and provide a competitive edge for U.S. soybean growers over South America.

Ethan, South Dakota producer Matt Bainbridge was one of the participants.  He says it’s important for him to see first-hand how critical the present and expanded canal are to U.S. soybean export customers.

He says the Panama Canal is just one piece of the grain infrastructure system and it emphasizes the importance of U.S. investment in all modes of transportation now and in the future.