Wisconsin soybeans are going on an export hunt.  

But while those soybeans are traveling to export markets around the world, increasing Wisconsin farmer profitability, obstacles pop up every day that hinder or prevent trade. Soybeans can’t go over those obstacles. They can’t go under them, either. They have to go through the obstacles. And the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board (WSMB) plays a critical role in helping soybeans find ways through those obstacles. 

During the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance’s (SSGA) Transportation Go! conference March 12-13 in Minneapolis, WSMB participated in constructive conversations centered around soybean and grain transportation and trade issues affecting the Midwest, and in turn, Wisconsin soybean producers. 

“It’s very important for our growers in Wisconsin to have opportunities to export soybeans around the world,” WSMB Director Andy Bensend said. “Transportation Go! brings transportation stakeholders together to talk about and try to address any kind of constraints or opportunities to make our shipping more efficient.” 

The conference, which WSMB supports as a Gold Sponsor, brought together the industry’s top stakeholders, from boots-on-the-ground commodity growers and organizations to traders and shippers of specialty crops. Kicking off with Hapag-Lloyd Senior Vice President Hardy Pearson and Paul Lesnefsky, senior account executive for Ocean Network Express, outlining opportunities for ocean carriers, no transportation topic was off-limits, and the agenda was stacked with industry leaders. 

“Transportation Go! is a really neat opportunity to come and to hear about the transportation of agricultural products,” WSMB Secretary/Treasurer Steve Wilkens said. “I’ve been coming to this for a couple of years now and it always surprises me how integrated and how fragile our supply system is and it’s kind of humbling to sit back and think about all of the things that have to take place in order to get our product to the end destination.” 

Overseeing the investment of Wisconsin soybean checkoff dollars, WSMB focuses on adding to the profitability of its producers. As a highly engaging conference, Transportation Go! provided in-depth discussions on the global supply chain and how it affects the movement of agricultural products domestically and around the world. And, with over 60 percent of the state’s soybeans exported internationally (mostly to China, Mexico and Canada), it’s imperative that WSMB invests in endeavors concentrating on exports. 

“Without a current soybean processing plant in the state, we depend heavily on exports,” Bensend said. “Soybeans are produced at a much higher level than we can consume, so those exports are just vital for our producers.” 

An emphasis on revitalizing trade on the Great Lakes via the St. Lawrence Seaway resounded throughout the two-day event, with updates from the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, Port Milwaukee, Ports of Indiana and the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation. 

WSMB and the soy community are playing the long game, said WSMB Executive Director Adam Kask. 

“The Port of Milwaukee is a viable option for Wisconsin soybeans to be exported out of the country through the St. Lawrence Seaway,” he said. “The discussions that happened at Transportation Go! were critical to continuing the progress we’ve made in developing that trade route. It might not happen tomorrow, but it’s an important steppingstone.”  

Unsurprisingly, trade policy was one of the burning issues addressed during the conference. Luckily, attendees had plenty of opportunities to ask Daniel Maffei with the Federal Maritime Commission and Robert Primus with the Surface Transportation Board the questions they’ve been itching to ask. Furthermore, they were able to talk amongst themselves and learn how other key industry players are navigating the rough waters. 

“One of the things that has been most interesting has been the talk between the participants about the impacts of tariffs and trade and how we might position ourselves most advantageously in this very uncertain climate,” said Bensend, who also represents Wisconsin on the Soy Transportation Coalition. “The take-home message has been that trade will continue. Our customers still need our products and we as producers are still going to need to find ways to get these products to the consumer. This group of people is very resilient and very determined, and we’ll solve the problems as best we can.” 

Despite the obstacles trying to prohibit Wisconsin soybeans from getting to export destinations, WSMB isn’t scared. Through sponsoring events like Transportation Go!, Wisconsin checkoff dollars are helping find a way through obstacles.  

“When we think about row crop producers, we do a good job of growing crops but the logistics of getting them to the end user is very challenging,” Wilkens said. “WSMB finds value in supporting Transportation Go!, where we can sit back and learn how we can continue to support the programs that help drive the supply of our products.”