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River transportation delays have different impacts on ag sector

The president and CEO of the National Grain and Feed Association says there haven’t been as many transportation pressures related to the low Mississippi River levels this year.

Mike Seyfert says lower freight transports and slower export demand are two reasons why.

“We are down on export numbers due to competitiveness. It’s helped us manage challenges better, but our members and producers would rather be moving through more challenges selling grain and oilseeds.”

Seyfert says there has been increased transportation pressures in other parts of the country.  He says the possibility of dam removals along the Snake River in the Pacific Northwest would be problematic as a lot of grain and oilseeds are exported through the PNW.

“All of the capacity that’s moved by barges in that area of the country would need to shift to tens of thousands of trucks and railcars. There’s really not the capacity on the road system and going over mountains to make up for the lost capacity.”

He says if a transportation backup occurs in the PNW, Midwest farmers would feel the impact.