This week’s Open Mic guest is Mike Seyfert, President and CEO of the National Grain and Feed Association. Most in the ag industry were relieved that dockworkers were back on the job following an agreement on wages that allowed East Coast and Gulf ports to reopen last week. Seyfert says container shipments are an integral factor in meeting global customers demands for a number of U.S. agricultural products. Prior to his tenure at NGFA, Seyfert had an extensive career on Capitol Hill. He recognizes the challenges of  seeing a farm bill approved by the end of the year, but says the industry needs new policy now.

Agriculture groups are relieved that Gulf and East Coast ports are back open. European regulations on deforestation may be pushed back. 

As the death toll climbs from Hurricane Helene, crop damage is being measured much further west than the epicenter of the storm. 

The impact of the East and Gulf Coast port strike ripples through the economy and can stymie container shipping of U.S. soybeans and soy products to global customers. 

Damage estimates from last week's hurricane continue to grow across the south in the wake of the storm. 

A threatened port strike at midnight has already brought financial loss to the agriculture industry from both exports and imports.