Expanding export pathways

June 1, 2026 | Bethany Baratta

When The DeLong Co., Inc.’s Agricultural Maritime Export Facility opened in July 2023, it was among the first on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system with the ability to handle a variety of agricultural commodities via truck, rail, barge, and international vessels. Phase I of the facility — primarily exporting DDGs and some soybeans and soybean meal — proved to be a successful proof of concept.

Seeing the potential for the facility to serve as a strategic outlet for the soy industry, the Soy Transportation Coalition and the Wisconsin Marketing Board committed $200,000 to expand the facility’s soy export capabilities. Established in 2007, the STC is supported by 15 soybean-growing states, the United Soybean Board, and the American Soybean Association.

The financial commitment helped with pre-construction efforts for Phase II. It also made The DeLong Company’s grant application more competitive. The DeLong Company was awarded a $9.3 million grant through the U.S. Maritime Administration’s Port Infrastructure Development Program. This expansion, which officially opened on April 2, 2026, added two grain storage silos, electrical service upgrades, and additional handling equipment. The facility can now load vessels between 8,000 and 22,000 metric tons; the 13,000 tons of expanded storage capacity significantly enhances U.S. soybean meal and soybean exports to global customers.

The Iowa Connection

Craig Pietig, senior vice president for ag products for AGP, says the facility is a natural fit for Iowa’s expanding crush footprint. He notes that while Iowa soybean meal typically moves by truck and rail, Milwaukee’s direct connection to Class I railroads allows for efficient inbound movements from the western Corn Belt.

“The facility adds valuable flexibility by enabling the aggregation of soybean meal from Iowa into export‑scale volumes,” Pietig says. “Once staged, product moves outbound on Great Lakes ‘laker’ vessels through the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Seaway system. From Milwaukee, cargo can reach Europe, North Africa, and other Atlantic Basin markets, providing a competitive alternative to traditional export channels.”

By shortening the supply chain and diversifying pathways, Pietig says the route makes productive use of underutilized capacity for U.S. meal.

Strategic Resilience

Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the STC, says the decision to support the Phase II expansion helps achieve three main goals:

Increasing soybean meal export capacity

As investment in domestic processing facilities rises to meet the demand for soybean oil for renewable fuels, the resulting surplus of soybean meal must find a home. While much of this additional meal will be consumed by the domestic livestock industry, investing in export capacity to connect with international markets is increasingly essential.

Increasing resilience of the supply chain

While the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway is not yet a dominant launching point for soybeans, it provides a vital alternative. The more the U.S. soybean industry can diversify its supply chain, the better positioned soybean farmers will be to remain profitable in an often unpredictable future.

Diversifying international markets

With challenges confronting soybean exports in the Chinese market, it is imperative to pursue “base hit” marketing opportunities in Europe, North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. Additionally, the facility allows for year-round barge loading to ultimately connect via the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers to Gulf export terminals.

The ‘Secret Sauce’

Brandon Bickham, vice president of exports for The DeLong Company, notes that while the 113-year-old company is a veteran in logistics, this project marks their first foray into the bulk business. For Bickham, a Nebraska native and Wisconsin soybean and corn grower, the physical silos are a symbol of a larger economic reality.

“In a commodity business, it's incredibly transparent. Everyone knows the price — there are no secrets. The real secret sauce is the transportation mechanism,” Bickham says. “That’s how you recoup dollars at the farm gate. That’s how you move things to our customers around the world. This project is a great symbol of that.”

This expansion is a game changer for the region, adds Jeff Ellis, an Iowa Soybean Association district director who also serves on the STC board.

“Even for those of us whose own soybeans might not head out through this specific terminal, seeing DeLong double down on the infrastructure at Port Milwaukee is a win for everyone,” says Ellis, who farms near Donnellson. “Strengthening our access to international markets keeps the whole industry moving forward and ensures the entire agricultural supply chain is operating with maximum efficiency."

On the Map

More than diversifying the options for shipping, Peter Hirthe, director of the Office of Trade and Economic Development for the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Commission, expects this new shipping offer from Port Milwaukee will help bring awareness from international partners. Hirthe notes that many global buyers overlook the Midwest’s maritime potential.

What we're trying to do is literally put the Great Lakes on the maps, because the maps of North America at many of the trade shows you go to in Europe or the Mediterranean are solid bodies of land,” he says. “When you talk about bringing a ship to Lake Michigan or Lake Superior, they don't even know those lakes exist.”

Written by Bethany Baratta.

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