CHS Expands Mississippi River Grain Network

By Scout Nelson

CHS Inc. expands its Mississippi River grain network by assuming operations of a major grain terminal in Cahokia, Illinois. The facility becomes part of the cooperative’s growing Midwest footprint and supports faster and more reliable grain movement across key transportation routes.

The Cahokia grain terminal offers year-round access to the St. Louis Harbor. It connects directly to barge routes on the Mississippi River and links to truck and rail transportation systems. The location allows grain to move smoothly between farms, domestic buyers, and export markets.

This facility includes connections to all six of North America’s major Class I railroads. It features more than seven miles of private rail track on site and supports four full unit trains at the same time, each holding 110 rail cars. These features allow faster loading and unloading of grain and grain byproducts. The terminal also supports truck-to-barge loading, helping move grains quickly to river export terminals.

“This expansion deepens our connections with local growers, supports our U.S. Center Gulf export strategy and provides our owners with competitive market access,” said John Griffith, CHS executive vice president for ag business and CHS Hedging.

CHS plans to operate the Cahokia site under a lease agreement. The terminal becomes part of a regional network that includes grain and agronomy locations across Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. This network includes about twenty locations that support local agricultural operations and market needs.

“Adding this facility strengthens our already robust grain network and enhances our ability to serve our owners, domestic buyers and international markets through the CHS export terminal in Myrtle Grove, La.,” Griffith said.

The expanded terminal supports stronger supply chains and improves access to global markets. It helps ensure that grain can move safely, quickly, and efficiently from production areas to end users. The added capacity also supports future growth in grain movement across the Midwest.

This expansion reflects CHS’s ongoing focus on building reliable transportation systems and improving market access. The new facility strengthens regional grain movement while supporting stable and competitive market opportunities across domestic and international channels.

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