URBANDALE, Iowa — A Bucyrus, Ohio, farmer has been appointed to the recently established Soy Transportation Coalition (STC) board of directors. Steve Miller is serving as the representative to the STC board from the Ohio Soybean Council.<br>
He and his wife, Debbie, farm near Bucyrus where they raise soybeans, corn, wheat and hogs. They also own and operate Hideaway Country Inn and Restaurant.<br>
“I am honored to be appointed to the Soy Transportation Coalition board,” Miller said. “The organization exists to help improve the transportation system on behalf of soybean farmers, not only in Ohio but across the country. Transportation is an issue of growing importance to the soybean industry, and I’m looking forward to working toward tangible solutions to these challenges.”<br>
Miller is a member of the Ohio Soybean Council and has served on its board of directors as chairman and vice chairman. Additionally, he is a member of Ohio Farm Bureau, the Ohio Pork Producers Assoc., Ohio Corn Growers Assoc. and is president of the Buckeye Renewable Fuels Assoc.<br>
“I would like to welcome Steve to the STC board,” said Mike Steenhoek, STC executive director. “His willingness to serve in this capacity highlights his commitment to his fellow soybean farmers. Steve will bring his rich experiences in production agriculture to supply capable leadership and direction to the STC board.”<br>
The STC was established by the Ohio Soybean Council and six other state soybean organizations, the American Soybean Assoc., United Soybean Board, National Grain and Feed Assoc. and National Oilseed Processors Assoc.<br>
The seven participating states encompass 63 percent of total U.S. soybean production.<br>
The coalition provides education and information on behalf of the U.S. soybean industry on shipping and transportation issues to help sustain a competitive global position and enhance its profitability.<br>
For example, some key issues include a rail infrastructure tax credit, a short line maintenance tax credit, proposed rail competition and service improvement bills, railroad antitrust enforcement and railroad rehabilitation and improvement financing program.<br>
Soy transportation costs often account for $1-$2 per bushel and have a direct impact on farmer prices. The coalition believes reliable, cost-effective rail service is necessary to be competitive in both domestic and international markets.<br>
The coalition’s concerns regarding rail transportation are a result of growing demand for rail transportation, which has exhausted excess capacity, allowing railroads to charge higher rates. Because grain markets are competitive, producers pay most of any increased transportation costs through lowered basis prices.<br>
These are serious issues for grain producers, especially given freight demand is expected to increase another 50–70 percent during the next decade and the STC terms current rail infrastructure “woefully inadequate.”<br>
The coalition believes upgrades of rail infrastructure and service will therefore be critical to the future of soybean producers.<br>
The primary goal of the STC is to position the soybean industry to benefit from a transportation system that delivers cost-effective, reliable and competitive service. For information, visit the STC website at www.soytransportation.org