River BargeSeveral agricultural commodity groups are partnering to offer $1 million to support work needed to enhance and maintain Lock and Dam #25 on the Upper Mississippi River. This lock and dam is the furthest south on the Mississippi River and hosts the soybeans, corn and other grains headed to export facilities near the Gulf of Mexico. The United Soybean Board, Soy Transportation Coalition, Iowa Soybean Association, Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council and Iowa Corn Promotion Board have banded together to offset the investment needed to move the project forward.

To put the importance of this lock and dam into perspective, it is estimated that even a three-month shut down would result in an economic loss of $933 million. Read more on the ag group’s call to action here.