ARLINGTON, Va., April 26, 2021 -- The National Grain and Feed Association and a coalition of agricultural shippers including the North American Millers Association, National Oilseed Processors Association, Pet Food Institute, and American Bakers Association today announced a partnership with the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and Railinc to give shippers greater visibility into the recent commodities carried by covered hopper cars. This new resource will provide shippers with essential information to maintain the highest food safety standards and help prevent potential cross-contact ... Read More
Transportation
NGFA urges Congress to alleviate truck driver shortage
NGFA and 117 other stakeholder groups this week urged lawmakers to help alleviate a nationwide shortage of commercial truck drivers by providing new opportunities for younger drivers. “Seventy percent of the nation’s freight is carried by commercial trucks, and while demand is projected to increase over the next decade, the threat posed by the driver shortage stands to disrupt the continuity of the supply chain,” stated an April 14 letter to leaders of the Senate Commerce Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “This is especially problematic as the nation and ... Read More
NGFA urges DoD to reinstate Inland Waterways Users Board
NGFA urged the Department of Defense this week to reinstate the Inland Waterways Users Board (IWUB) as soon as possible. In an April 7 letter to DoD leaders, NGFA President and CEO Mike Seyfert noted that the U.S. inland waterways system is financed in part by a diesel fuel tax that commercial users pay, deposited into the Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF). “The users who help pay for the maintenance and modernization of this system should continue to have their voice heard through the IWUB,” he noted. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered a “zero-based review” of all DoD ... Read More
NGFA declares opening of Mid-Mississippi River
Pursuant to the NGFA Trade Rules, NGFA has declared that the Mid-Mississippi River opened for navigation as of 7 a.m. on Monday, March 29, 2021. NGFA Barge Freight Trading Rule 18(J) provides as follows: “The Dubuque and South (Mid-Mississippi) opening commences the first 07:00 hours of the first business day after the first empty dry cargo covered barge suitable for loading, originating at or below Winfield, Mo., reaches Dubuque, Iowa. The Mid-Miss opening shall be determined by a majority vote of a three-person committee appointed by the NGFA Chairman and shall be announced by publishing ... Read More
NGFA supports HAULS Act to provide regulatory relief for ag truckers
ARLINGTON, Va., March 18, 2021 – The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) today commended lawmakers for their introduction of the Haulers of Agriculture and Livestock Safety (HAULS) Act of 2021, which would provide much-needed regulatory relief for agricultural truckers. Sens. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., Jon Tester, D-Mont., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Roger Wicker, R-Miss., re-introduced the HAULS Act – a bill based on legislation first introduced in 2020 – that includes updates to the agricultural exemption to the hours-of-service (HOS) rules. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s ... Read More
NGFA outlines ag priorities for the next surface transportation bill
ARLINGTON, March 17, 2021 -- The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) today urged lawmakers to prioritize improvements to U.S. freight transportation in the next surface transportation bill that are environmentally responsible and enhance the economic health of U.S. agriculture. In a March 17 letter to each member of Congress led by NGFA and signed by dozens of agricultural producer, commodity, agribusiness, food manufacturer and food-related organizations, NGFA and the other groups noted that “Congress can achieve positive benefits for the environment while improving the economic ... Read More
NGFA, food and ag groups, outline transportation priorities to incoming Biden administration
By Max Fisher, Vice President of Economics and Government Relations NGFA and a coalition of food and agricultural organizations on Jan. 7 sent the transition team of President-elect Joe Biden a statement outlining major transportation policies and initiatives that would enhance the efficient and cost-effective transport of agricultural and food products. The letter provided recommendations for each of the three primary freight transportation modes: motor, rail and waterborne. Motor Carrier: For motor carrier transportation, NGFA and its coalition partners said exemptions to ... Read More
NGFA commends Congress for including key inland waterways, port provisions in FY 2021 spending package
ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 22, 2020 – The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) today commended Congress for including key inland waterways and port legislation – one of its major 2021 legislative priorities – in the fiscal 2021 omnibus spending bill approved Monday night. “An efficient waterborne transportation system is crucial for growing the American economy and maintaining and creating U.S. jobs, and is vitally important to the continuing competitiveness of U.S. agricultural exports and their positive contribution to the U.S. balance of trade,” said Bobby Frederick, NGFA’s vice ... Read More
House passes waterways bill
The House unanimously on Dec. 7 passed a water resources bill that includes major NGFA policy priorities designed to expedite the funding of projects to rehabilitate the locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Waterway. The Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA) (S. 1811) amends the cost-share formula for inland waterway projects to provide that 65 percent of the funding would be derived from taxpayer revenues and 35 percent from user fees deposited in the Inland Waterway Trust Fund. Currently, the funding formula is split 50:50. The policy change would be in place for ... Read More
STB solicits arbitrators for rail arbitration system
In a decision issued Dec. 2, the federal Surface Transportation Board (STB) invited qualified persons to apply to be listed on its roster of arbitrators for resolving rail disputes under the agency’s voluntary arbitration system. In addition, the STB requires persons currently listed on its roster of arbitrators – which include several NGFA members – to notify the agency of their continued availability, confirm that their biographical information remains accurate and to update such information if warranted. New applicants are to submit their experience with rail transportation and ... Read More
Lacy Holleman
National Grain and Feed Association
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