NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — October rail freight costs for grain have dropped to their lowest level in six years as sluggish soybean export demand weighs on the market.
For the week ending September 4, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service reported BNSF shuttle values averaging $406 per car and Union Pacific shuttles at $250 per car. Both are more than $800 below their five-year averages for the same week. Analysts say improved service on the major railroads has also added to capacity, further reducing secondary market prices.
Other transport indicators show similar softness. Barge grain movements on the Mississippi totaled 361,000 tons, down 6 percent from the prior week and 9 percent from last year. Gulf export loadings reached 26 vessels, 8 percent above the same period the previous year, though forward bookings suggest fewer ships ahead.
Meanwhile, diesel fuel prices climbed for the second week in a row to $3.77 per gallon, though federal projections call for slight declines by the end of 2025 as global oil inventories expand.
Tony’s Farm-Level Takeaway: Grain shippers face lower freight values thanks to weak soybean exports and strong rail service, but barge traffic and forward Gulf loadings suggest continued uncertainty as harvest ramps up.
Mike Spier, president and CEO of U.S. Wheat Associates, discusses the new U.S.-Bangladesh trade agreement and its potential benefits for U.S. wheat growers.
February 11, 2026 12:37 PM
·
Gretchen Kuck of the National Corn Growers Association joined us to discuss the Ag Coalition for USMCA’s report findings and expectations ahead of the upcoming USMCA review.
February 11, 2026 12:17 PM
·
Strong corn exports offer support, while soybeans and wheat remain weighed down by ample global supplies, according to the USDA’s latest WASDE report for February.
February 10, 2026 04:25 PM
·
Higher livestock prices reflect resilient demand, even as disease and herd shifts reshape 2026 supply expectations.
February 10, 2026 04:11 PM
·
Kevin Charleston of Specialty Risk Insurance discusses the importance of grain bin safety and joint efforts with Nationwide to provide farmers and first responders with access to critical, life-saving rescue tubes.
February 10, 2026 03:57 PM
·
RealAg Radio host Sean Haney outlines the Trump Administration’s current trade priorities and what meaningful market expansion looks like for farmers.
February 10, 2026 03:08 PM
·
