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
Pasture, Rangeland and Forage (PRF) interval selection—not just participation—drives protection levels as rainfall patterns become less predictable across the South.
November 11, 2025 11:06 AM
·
Lewie Pugh, with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report to share his perspective on what the bill could mean for truckers.
November 10, 2025 11:46 AM
·
Distillers dried grains (DDG) values follow corn and soybean meal trends, with ethanol grind and feed demand shaping costs into early 2026.
November 07, 2025 10:45 AM
·
It started as a simple service project for 4-H — collect some shoes, help a few people. But for Franklin Parish High School senior Eli Rogers, it has turned into something much bigger.
November 06, 2025 12:15 PM
·
Texas Cattle Feeders Association Chairman Robby Kirkland explains how the ongoing U.S.-Mexico border closure impacts feed yards that rely on Mexican cattle due to the New World Screwworm.
November 06, 2025 12:01 PM
·
While the U.S.-China framework for soybean trade is in place, Ohio farmer Chris Gibbs tells us he will believe it when he sees it.
November 06, 2025 11:38 AM
·
