NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD NEWS) — Grain transportation signals were mixed in the latest weekly update, with rail demand strengthening while barge movement slowed. U.S. Class I railroads originated 30,610 grain carloads for the week ending May 2, up 3 percent from the previous week.
Rail volume was also 17 percent above last year and 21 percent above the three-year average. Shuttle secondary railcar bids averaged $596 per car above tariff, up $142 from the previous week and $705 above the same week last year.
River movement weakened. Barged grain movements totaled 635,575 tons for the week ending May 9, down 10 percent from the previous week and 14 percent below last year. Downbound barge traffic also fell, with 418 barges moving downriver.
Ocean demand remained firm. Gulf elevators loaded 29 grain vessels for the week ending May 7, up 32 percent from last year, with 48 more expected within 10 days.
Diesel remains expensive at $5.639 per gallon, the morning of May 18, which is more than $2.16 above last year.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Strong rail and ocean demand support grain movement, but weak barge traffic and high diesel costs keep freight pressure elevated.
Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist
Export volumes remain positive year-to-date, but weaker soybean loadings and slowing wheat movement hint at early bottlenecks in global demand or river logistics. Farmers should watch basis levels and freight conditions as export competition heats up.
October 28, 2025 10:58 AM
·
John Appel with the Farmers Business Network (FBN) joins us for a closer look at the 2026 Crop Protection Market Outlook Report.
October 27, 2025 01:00 PM
·
Farmers display a unique optimism — planting with the expectation that weather, basis, and prices will improve by harvest — asserting that the profession is an identity, not just a job.
October 27, 2025 12:12 PM
·
Margin Protection and the new MCO add county-level margin tools — with earlier price discovery, input cost triggers, and high subsidy rates — to complement on-farm risk plans for 2026.
October 24, 2025 01:44 PM
·
For aging operators and their rural neighbors, staying socially engaged is a practical strategy to preserve decision-making capacity and farm vitality.
October 24, 2025 01:37 PM
·
Set targets and use forwards, futures, or options to manage downside while preserving room for rallies.
October 24, 2025 11:05 AM
·
