CHS, the nation’s largest farmer-owned cooperative and global agribusiness, is further increasing the cooperative’s capacity to deliver fertilizer to farmers during the busy spring season. This increase in capacity is made possible through an exclusive services agreement between CHS and Ingram Barge Company’s subsidiary, SCF Lewis and Clark Terminals LLC. The agreement provides CHS exclusive rights to fertilizer throughput at Ingram’s Municipal River Terminal in St. Louis, Mo., and for fertilizer transport services.
“We are better able to serve our owners and customers by establishing a new pathway to the global market, facilitating flexible rail shipments of multiple products and increasing our shipping capacity of fertilizer products for in-season delivery,” said Roger Baker, vice president, crop nutrients, CHS.
CHS now has the ability to load multiproduct unit rail shipments of commodity fertilizers from the St. Louis Municipal River Terminal and more efficiently deliver fertilizers to customers and owners. The enhanced CHS supply chain facilitates import and domestic distribution of nitrogen, phosphate, potassium and sulfur fertilizers.
“Ingram is looking forward to partnering with CHS to help move vital nutrients to farmers for their crops,” said John Roberts, president and CEO of Ingram Barge Company. “We’ve enjoyed a strong working relationship with CHS over the years and this is a great opportunity for our companies to further grow that relationship.”
Barges provide an efficient way to transport cargo and help keep commerce on the move. Inland marine highways move products throughout the nation’s heartland, serve industrial and agricultural centers and facilitate imports and exports at gateways on the Gulf Coast.
“As a global agribusiness, CHS continues to look for ways to strengthen our supply chains to provide value and enhance market access for U.S. growers,” Baker said. “This new pathway improves the efficiency and flexibility of our supply chain, so our farmers can have access to needed inputs, particularly during the busy growing season."
