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Shining Light on Farm & Food Policy for 20 Years.
Thursday, March 06, 2025
Federal shipping regulators say agricultural trade was particularly affected by last year’s drought in the Panama Canal and that the situation could worsen if the bidding process for access to the critical channel is not amended.
Lock and dam construction and upkeep projects could see additional federal funding under a bill that is nearing passage after a recent deal between House and Senate transportation leaders.
Dry weather has helped speed Midwestern and Southern farmers through most of this fall’s corn and soybean harvest while also limiting the amount of grain they could send down the Mississippi River. As many park their combines for the year, they are hoping rain storms can replenish soils parched and waterways shrunk by months of drought.
An impasse in discussions over an expiring contract has dockworkers readying for a strike that could leave containers piling up at ports along the East and Gulf Coasts, force cargo ships to sit in harbors until it clears, and scramble routes for agricultural goods at a critical time of year for farmers.
Major rail carriers have made major gains in improving service over the past couple of years, but the fluidity of their lines will be tested in the next few months as they look to transport thousands of carloads of freshly harvested corn, soybeans, wheat and other crops across the country.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers aims to spend a record $456 million on inland waterway construction projects this year, making major headway in addressing a backlog of infrastructure projects vital to shipping.
Farm groups and ag lawmakers are growing increasingly frustrated by the closure of two rail crossings at the U.S-Mexico border and say they haven't received any word of when the situation will be resolved.
The drought that continues in much of the Midwest despite recent rainfall could affect not only crops but also the ability of producers to get their corn and soybeans to foreign markets.
The shipping delays that plagued railroad networks last year have improved amid increases in staffing, though Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is calling for more action from the Surface Transportation Board to address what he calls “inadequate” and “unreliable” service from railroad companies.
Flooding conditions along the Mississippi River, brought on by the warming of massive quantities of snow to hit the Midwest over the winter, are expected to cause issues for inland waterway transportation into next week.
