Shipments at two major West Coast ports have reportedly resumed. The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach halted operations late last week when long-running contract negotiations for union workers broke down. It is not clear if the temporary halt was the result of a strike or worker shortage.
Mike Steenhoek with the Soy Transportation Coalition told one media outlet that products shipped in bulk were not impacted, but agriculture commodities shipped by container were caught in limbo, including soybeans, chilled meat, and fresh produce.
The two ports are essentially the largest gateway for maritime trade in the U.S., accounting for 40 percent of goods arriving in the country. As uncertainty surrounding union workers and their contracts grows, international shippers have avoided the ports in favor of east coast ports.
Steenhoek says that creates more uncertainty for the U.S. food supply chain, and it will only get worse if ports can’t provide reliability.
As Canada and the United States continue to navigate trade disputes, the review offers farm groups an opportunity to argue for preserving access to integrated North American agricultural markets.
October 23, 2026 04:30 PM
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Texas Cattle Feeders Association says the extended closure took a toll on the state’s cattle industry.
October 23, 2026 02:00 PM
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Farm organizations say fuel and fertilizer costs are putting increasing pressure on family farms.
October 23, 2026 01:32 PM
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Stronger East Coast shipments are giving U.S. corn another route to overseas markets.
October 23, 2026 12:00 PM
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The shipment would mark the first Russian petroleum-products cargo the United States has imported since a 2022 ban on Russian oil and petroleum products.
October 23, 2026 11:23 AM
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Soy Transportation Coalition’s Mike Steenhoek discusses how rising diesel costs affect grain delivery decisions and how farmers can use their free calculator to compare transportation costs and protect profitability.
October 22, 2026 03:00 PM
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