FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ohio Soybean Farmers and Hancock County Partner to Bolster Agricultural Supply Chain and Transportation Infrastructure
Ankeny, Iowa – Jan 26, 2022 – This past summer, in a joint effort to promote greater resilience of rural roads and bridges in an environmentally sustainable manner, while providing an increased marketing opportunity for soybean farmers, the Soy Transportation Coalition (STC) and Hancock County, Ohio, recently partnered on a pilot project in which RePlay® Agricultural Oil and Preservation Agent for Asphalt Surfaces (RePlay Asphalt-Rejuvenating Sealer), a soy-based asphalt sealant produced by BioSpan Technologies, was applied on a rural county road.
The penetration of salt, water, and other materials into a paved road – particularly in areas with a freeze-thaw cycle – can result in significant damage and diminished longevity. The application of an asphalt sealant, like RePlay, can provide a barrier to such penetration and significantly increase the useful life of the road or bridge.
Rural roads and bridges serve as the initial link in the agricultural supply chain. Without a system of well-maintained rural roads and bridges, the soybeans and grain Ohio farmers produce will not be efficiently delivered to elevators, processing facilities, and, ultimately, to domestic and international customers.
“Rural counties throughout Ohio and the entire country are struggling to maintain their roads and bridges with often stagnant or declining sources of revenue,” says Doug Cade, county engineer for Hancock County. “As a result, we must be open to economical ways to increase the longevity of our infrastructure. We have been pleased to partner with soybean farmers on this pilot project.”
On August 24, RePlay was applied on approximately two miles of County Road 84 in Hancock County via a truck-mounted sprayer. Because RePlay is 88% produced from bio-based products – mostly soybean oil – the product is safe to apply and environmentally sustainable. The road was able to be reopened to traffic within 30 minutes of application.
“Our ultimate goal in applying RePlay to this section of road is to safely extend our repair schedule by five years,” says Cade. “This will allow us to allocate taxpayer money to other projects that are in more need of immediate attention.”
The STC is working to enact similar projects in all thirteen states that comprise the organization.
About the Soy Transportation Coalition
Established in 2007, the Soy Transportation Coalition comprises the Ohio Soybean Council, 12 other state soybean boards, the American Soybean Association, and the United Soybean Board. The goal of the organization is to position the soybean industry to benefit from a transportation system that delivers cost effective, reliable, and competitive service.
About RePlay and Coast Pavement Services
Founded in 1969 as a sweeping service, Coast Pavement Services, the West Coast’s exclusive sales agent of RePlay, provides a comprehensive line of seal-coating services, asphalt paving, crack-sealing, striping, sweeping and stormwater services. The company is passionate about providing the best products and services possible to care for pavement and the greater environment. Coast illustrates this mission by being the first pavement company in the world to join forces with 1% for Planet, dedicating 1% of each sale dollar of RePlay to an environmental cause. Coast believes it is our responsibility to pave it forward for future generations.
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