NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD NEWS) — Southern Plains wheat shippers face higher rail fuel surcharges as hard red winter wheat production falls toward a nearly 70-year low. USDA’s Grain Transportation Report says BNSF and Union Pacific made only modest tariff changes for the 2026/27 marketing year, but fuel costs are rising sharply.
The biggest change is the fuel surcharge. USDA says BNSF’s June surcharge will rise to 46 cents per mile, up from 8 cents last June. Union Pacific’s surcharge will rise to 69 cents per mile, up from 30 cents.
That increase can add real cost to wheat movement. For Wichita-to-Houston shipments, USDA says higher fuel surcharges mean a $251-per-car increase for Union Pacific and a $387-per-car increase for BNSF.
The higher freight cost comes as USDA forecasts hard red winter wheat production at 515 million bushels, down 36 percent from last year and the smallest crop since 1957/58. Drought and a late-season freeze drove the decline.
Large old-crop ending stocks may still support transportation demand, but lower production and higher freight costs will shape movement.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Wheat shippers may face higher rail costs even as drought sharply reduces Southern Plains production.
Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist
Corn and wheat exports remain a demand bright spot, while soybeans are transitioning into a more typical late-winter shipping slowdown.
January 21, 2026 10:36 AM
·
Corn growers are turning to ethanol, E15 expansion, and export markets to help absorb record supplies and stabilize prices. Farm leaders discuss low-carbon ethanol demand, flex-fuel vehicle challenges, input costs, and the role of USMCA as producers look for market relief in the year ahead.
January 20, 2026 02:04 PM
·
From rising trade tensions in Europe to a pending Supreme Court decision on tariffs and shifting demand from China, global trade policy spearheaded by President Donald Trump continues to shape the outlook for U.S. agriculture—adding uncertainty as farmers navigate another volatile year.
January 20, 2026 01:14 PM
·
The Surface Transportation Board rejects the proposed Norfolk Southern–Union Pacific merger, prompting concerns from agricultural shippers about rail consolidation, service reliability, and higher transportation costs.
January 20, 2026 12:25 PM
·
