LUBBOCK, Texas (RFD NEWS) — Grain rail traffic remains steady early this year, with shifting secondary markets and new export routing options shaping movement into Mexico and the Southeast.
U.S. Class I railroads originated 27,108 grain carloads during the week ending February 7 — down 2 percent from the prior week but 6 percent above both last year and the three-year average. Secondary shuttle bids averaged $163 per car above tariff, narrowing sharply from a year ago and signaling less congestion pressure. Non-shuttle bids averaged $25 above tariff, also well below year-earlier levels.
BNSF Railway announced that beginning Monday (March 1st), its Mexico locations will qualify for single-destination efficiency trains carrying wheat. The 110-car unit trains can now move directly to Mexico without being split into blocks, streamlining cross-border wheat logistics. Over the first six weeks of 2026, 226,000 metric tons of wheat moved by rail to Mexico — 10 percent below last year.
In the Southeast, North Carolina committed $16.3 million in freight rail grants, supporting short lines that serve grain elevators and feed mills. The state imported more than 7 million tons of Midwest grain by rail in 2024.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Rail logistics remain supportive, with access to Mexico improving.
Tony St. James, RFD NEWS Markets Specialist
The machines do all the work at Hickory Hill Milk in South Carolina, and the pampered cows get on-demand service. The team at Where the Food Comes From shares a special, behind-the-scenes account filming the show’s newest episode, Robot Dairy, premiering this Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, at 9:30 p.m. ET on RFD-TV!
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