NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — U.S. grain transportation showed mixed but generally supportive signals in early December as rail volumes strengthened, barge movement rebounded, and fuel costs eased. Higher rail originations and lower diesel prices are helping offset seasonal logistical challenges for producers and shippers.
Class I railroads originated more than 30,700 grain carloads for the week ending December 6, up 20 percent from the prior week and well above both last year and the three-year average. Shuttle railcar premiums declined from the previous week but remain elevated compared with a year ago, while non-shuttle markets softened below tariff levels, signaling improved near-term availability.
Barge traffic also recovered sharply. Grain movements totaled nearly 888,000 tons, up 62 percent week over week, as more barges moved downriver. However, unloadings in the New Orleans region fell, reflecting lingering river and weather-related constraints.
Export loading remained slower than last year, with fewer vessels scheduled at Gulf terminals, though ocean freight rates to Japan edged lower from both Gulf and Pacific Northwest origins. Diesel prices declined nearly six cents per gallon, offering modest cost relief.
Both imports and exports are moving through the Panama Canal at a slower pace as the ag industry continues to deal with drought-related restrictions.
December 26, 2023 02:51 PM
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Shaun Haney, host of Rural Radio Channel 147’s Real Ag Radio, joined us Friday on Market Day Report with an update on the important vote involving the use of ag machinery in Canada.
November 03, 2023 02:14 PM
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The FAO Food Price Index for October 2023 is out. Where do global food prices stand, and which categories saw the largest gains?
November 03, 2023 01:42 PM
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Falling feed costs and strong demand for butter could be good news for dairy farmers looking to get their finances back on track.
November 03, 2023 12:38 PM
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The meaning of a “double-fraction” clause and the impact on future oil and gas conveyances—that is the topic of today’s blog post by RFD-TV Agril-Legal expert Roger McEowen.
October 13, 2023 03:28 AM
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The failure of a grain elevator can cause large problems for farmers and for the local community it serves. A farmer who knows their rights and where they stand if an elevator fails can be in a better position than those farmers who aren’t as well informed. That is the topic of today’s blog post by RFD-TV Legal Contributor Roger A. McEowen.
October 04, 2023 02:46 PM
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