Where Does Minnesota's Grain Crop Go? An Analysis of Minnesota's Elevator Grain Shipments for the Period, 7/99-6/00

This study describes the movement of grain shipments from Minnesota to their final destinations. A sample of approximately 100 (or 20 percent) of Minnesota's grain elevators reported their monthly grain shipments by mode to each of nine destinations from July 1999 to June 2000. The researchers used this data to project grain shipments from Minnesota and each of six crop reporting districts by grain and by transportation mode to final destination. Minneapolis and Mississippi River ports were the most important destinations, receiving 28.4 percent of all shipments. Pacific Northwest export ports received 17.9 percent. Minnesota-based corn, soybean, and wheat processors received 16.6 percent of shipments. Duluth-Superior received 10.5 percent and Mexico received 7 percent. Rail was used for 494 million bushels (14.1 million tons) or 64 percent of all grains. Rail shipments of 50 or more cars accounted for 47 percent of all elevator shipments. Both destination and modal percentages varied substantially by grain and by crop report.