Transportation issues by truck, ship or train, cause backlogs in the supply chain, which then trickles down to the farmer.
Tony St. James with All Ag All Day had the opportunity to talk with NCBA about shipping challenges for the livestock industry.
Major agriculture groups are urging Congress to intervene if they fail to avoid a rail strike by September 16th. The National Grain and Feed Association sent a letter saying a strike would bring the supply chain to a devastating halt. The Farm Bureau, American Soybean Association and Fertilizer Institute are among those signing the letter.
The Farm Bureau joined us on the Market Day Report recently and shared the impact this could have on the industry.
“We cannot afford a shutdown of our rail network. I think the American Association of Railroads came out with a number this week saying close to $2 billion of economic activity would be lost daily. So, when you look a little closer to the impact of agriculture you know its a huge key component of the three legged stool of infrastructure. You know we have our waterways, we have our roadways but then rail is a critically important component when you look at our bulk movements of inputs and fertilizers,” said Andrew Walmsley.
Walmsley says timing is also a big risk right now with harvest season beginning.
Related:
Contract talks between rails and unions are back on track
Surface Transportation Board discusses what is being dubbed as the rail shipping crisis
CN Rail employees are on strike
