NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 24, 2026 — The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) today concluded its 130th annual convention, convening more than 700 grain, feed, and processing industry leaders from across the country for three days of strategic dialogue, policy engagement, and industry collaboration in Nashville, Tenn.

Across general sessions and committee meetings, NGFA members examined the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing the industry, including supply chain reliability, rail and barge transportation performance, global market volatility, and the current policy and regulatory environment.

Transportation policy kicked things off, with remarks from Surface Transportation Board Chairman Patrick Fuchs, who discussed the agency’s priorities on service reliability, competition, and regulatory balance. To the attendees, his remarks underscored the critical role of transportation in supporting the grain and feed supply chain and the importance of continued engagement between regulators and industry stakeholders.

Monday’s general session featured perspectives from key industry leaders, including Bunge CEO Greg Heckman, BNSF Railway president and CEO Katie Farmer, and Kearney’s global agriculture lead Rob Dongoski. Speakers emphasized the importance of resilient infrastructure, efficient transportation networks, and maintaining U.S. competitiveness in global agricultural markets amid shifting trade flows and geopolitical uncertainty.

Tuesday’s closing general session featured Ardent Mills CEO Sheryl Wallace, political analyst Nathan Gonzales of Inside Elections, and NGFA chairman Chris Boerm, who emphasized the importance of proactive industry engagement as Congress and the administration consider major policy decisions, including the farm bill, infrastructure, and trade policy.

NGFA president and CEO Mike Seyfert highlighted a central theme: “From rail service and river reliability to market access, a resilient supply chain is the backbone of U.S. agriculture. NGFA members are committed to working with policymakers and other stakeholders to advance solutions that keep grain moving efficiently and maintain our global competitiveness.”

NGFA committee meetings and policy discussions throughout the convention reinforced the association’s advocacy priorities for the year ahead, including increasing domestic demand, strengthening export competitiveness, improving rail service efficiency and reliability, advancing key legislative policy goals, and ensuring a predictable, science-based regulatory framework for the grain and feed sector. Attendees also participated in networking and collaboration opportunities that reinforced NGFA’s role as the leading national voice for grain, feed, and processing companies.

NGFA’s upcoming events include the Trading, Trade Rules, and Arbitration Seminar in April , CONVEY in August, and the Country Elevator Conference in December.

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