Missouri River Freight Corridor Development Forum

ASB Barge Services

December 10 th , 2009

AGRIServices of Brunswick, LLC

        31 years experience in agriculture Located on HWY 24 West of Brunswick, MO MO River Mile 256 45,000 ton Dry Fertilizer Storage 16,000 ton Liquid Fertilizer Storage 3,000,000 bushel Grain Capacity Retail & Wholesale Liquid Blend Plant Retail Dry Fertilizer Blending Plant

Experience on the MO River

    Fertilizer business dependant on barge shipments for 31+ years.

Prior to 2004 ASB shipped   Fertilizer: 70-80 barges per year Grain: 40-50 barges per year Coordinated shipments with the 4 main towing companies working MO River Active members of various MO River organizations    Missouri Levy Drainage District MO-ARK Missouri River Navigation Caucus

ASB’s start in towing business

 ASB began chartering a tow boat in 2006  Factors that led ASB into towing business  Last 2 remaining towing companies exiting barge business  Most economical way of transporting products  Maintain sufficient supply of products  Keep navigation alive on the Missouri River

ASB Barge Services

 Leased towboat from Excel Marine of Cincinnati, OH  M/V Butch Bowman  Serve points from St. Louis to Blair, NE  Work with all major barge suppliers  Coordinate shipping to/from any point on inland river system

M/V Capt. Butch Bowman

 Totally refurbished – completed June of 2009  2400 HP  Shallow draft boat  Push up to 6 loaded barges on MO River  Crew of 7

M/V Capt. Butch Bowman

Locations serviced

         Hermann Sand – Hermann, MO ASB – Brunswick, MO La Farge – Sugar Creek, MO Midwest Terminal – Kansas City, MO Drexel – Leavenworth, KS Port Authority – St. Joseph, MO DeBruce – Nebraska City, NE Kinder Morgan – Omaha, NE CBI – Blair, NE

Barges Towed

60 50 40 30 20 10 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 Northbound Southbound Total

Products moved on MO River

5% 3%2% 3% 2% 42% 27% 16% Fertilizer Grain Feed Ingredients Aggregates Liquid Metal Products Equipment Salt

Barge, Rail, Truck Comparison

= 1 Barge 15 Railcars = 60 Trucks

Northbound Freight Rates from NOLA $60 $50 $40 $30 $20 $10 $0 Boonville Brunswick Kansas City St. Joe Omaha Sioux City

* Barge – 6 barge tow Rail – Published tariff rates Barge/ Truck - includes $4/ton handling charge

Barge Rail Barge/ Truck

Southbound Freight Rates from NOLA $20 $15 $10 $5 $0 $50 $45 $40 $35 $30 $25 Boonville Brunswick Kansas City St. Joe Barge Rail Truck/ Barge Omaha Sioux City

* Barge – 6 barge tow Rail – Published tariff rates Truck/Barge - includes $2.50/ ton handling charge

How is the MO River different than other navigable rivers?

 Swifter currents  Restricted barge drafts  Channel width  Changes in channel  Lack of switch boats at major destinations

Hurdles to expanding traffic on the MO River

 River season  Grain movement has changed from years past  Heavier St. Louis drafts  Same barges in/out on tow  Lack of active river ports to handle various needs  Scheduling to have barges in place

Opportunities on the MO River

 Northbound freight from Gulf is more economical by barge  Higher water flows will increase drafts  More traffic will decrease rates  Increase in boats on the river will make switching more convenient, decreasing stand-by time

Outlook for 2010 season

 More corn acres projected  Record harvest  More pressure to have fast reliable shipping  Above average run-off forecasts in Missouri River basin  More inquiries about construction projects, wind tower projects

Questions?