U.S. Department of Agriculture

Hemp growers urge FMCSA to issue hauling guidelines

The co-founders of a major hemp products producer want federal regulators to develop procedures and guidelines for commercial haulers of hemp and hemp-processing materials.

In a white paper submitted to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Motor Carrier Advisory Committee (MCSAC) this week, Brett Goldman and Steve Bevan, co-founders of GenCanna Global, asked the committee to consider defining standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all compliant hemp, as well as develop...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/hemp-growers-urge-fmcsa-to-issue-hauling-guidelines

Slowing world economy could impact U.S. barge industry

Economists told the barge industry earlier this month that the world economy is in a fragile state, indicating that a convergence of unrest, political instability and trade disputes in many parts of the globe could affect the movement of commodities along the U.S. inland waterways system.

Tell-tale signs of a slowdown include a deceleration of world trade linked to rising protectionism and a drop in investment, said Tom Scott, global director of agribusiness consulting at IEG Vantage. Scott...

https://www.workboat.com/news/coastal-inland-waterways/slowing-world-economy-could-impact-u-s-barge-industry/

Grain inspections fall in third quarter

Grain barges tied up to a pier near the Port of New Orleans. USDA photo/ Anson Eaglin.

During the third quarter, inspections of grain (wheat, corn, and soybeans) for export from all U.S. ports reached 25.8 million metric tons (mmt), down 18% from the same time last year and 7% below the five-year average, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported today.

Despite the drop in overall inspections of grain, soybean inspections reached an all-time high during the third quarter. Wheat inspections were also up from last year during the third quarter, but the increases in wheat and...

https://www.workboat.com/news/coastal-inland-waterways/grain-inspections-fall-in-third-quarter/

Barge grain movements fall 32% over last week

For the week ending Sept. 21, barge grain movements totaled 501,809 tons, a 32% decrease from the previous week and 25% less than the same period last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said. During that same time period, 327 grain barges moved down river on the Mississippi, 146 fewer barges than the previous week. There were 629 grain barges unloaded in New Orleans, 68% more than the previous week.

For the week ending Sept. 19, total inspections of grain (corn, wheat, and soybeans) for...

https://www.workboat.com/news/coastal-inland-waterways/barge-grain-movements-slip-by-32-from-last-week/

Investing in inland waterways infrastructure worthwhile, USDA study says

The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) and Waterways Council Inc. (WCI) commended the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for releasing a significant new study that quantifies the cost-savings and competitive advantages that would accrue from investing in long-delayed improvements to inland waterways locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois River system.

The study, “Importance of Inland Waterways to U.S. Agriculture”, addresses the connection between the inland waterways...

https://www.workboat.com/news/coastal-inland-waterways/investing-in-inland-waterways-infrastructure-worthwhile-usda-study-says/

Barge traffic slows on the inland waterways

Total downbound barge traffic through the locking system of the Mississippi, Illinois, Ohio, and Arkansas rivers has decreased the last three weeks, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said today.

Water levels have rapidly declined since flooding and high-water events earlier this year. Lower water levels, aggravated by increased sediments deposited during the flood stages, have resulted in grounding hazards, with several barge groundings this month, the USDA said in its weekly Grain...

https://www.workboat.com/news/coastal-inland-waterways/barge-traffic-slows-on-the-inland-waterways/

U.S. grain inspections for export increases

As of Jan. 17, spot rates for grain barge exports have been increasing since late December. Photo by David Krapf

For the week ending Aug. 8, total inspections of grain (corn, wheat, and soybeans) for export from all major U.S. export regions was 2.41 million metric tons (mmt), the U.S. Department of Agriculture said today. This represents a 12% increase from the previous week, unchanged from last year, and 4% below the three-year average.

The increase in inspections was primarily driven by a 66% rise in wheat inspections, the USDA said in its weekly Grain Transportation Report (GTR). Wheat shipments...

https://www.workboat.com/news/government/u-s-grain-inspections-for-export-increases/

Second quarter grain inspections down 20%, USDA reports

Cargill's export grain elevator on the Mississippi River near New Orleans. Ken Hocke photo

During 2019’s second quarter, inspections of wheat, corn, and soybeans for export from all major U.S. ports reached 27.7 million metric tons (mmt), according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS).

The amount of grain inspected is down 20% from the same period last year, but is 2% above the five-year average. Grain inspections were down in each of the major export regions. Second quarter corn inspections experienced the steepest drop compared to last...

https://www.workboat.com/news/coastal-inland-waterways/second-quarter-grain-inspections-down-20-usda-reports/

Navigation improves on the inland waterways

Today, the Mississippi River gauge at St. Louis was at 33.7′, a decline from higher river stages in previous weeks, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said. The National Weather Service forecasts river levels will continue to fall into mid-July.

Mississippi River barge traffic at St. Louis was halted from May 23 through June 23, when river levels exceeded 38′. River closures occur at certain gauges, which are set by the Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, and barge industry representatives....

https://www.workboat.com/news/coastal-inland-waterways/navigation-improves-on-the-inland-waterways/

Private exporters report sales activity

Private exporters reported to the U.S. Department of Agriculture the following activity:

–Export sales of 130,632 metric tons of soybeans for delivery to Mexico during the 2018/2019 marketing year; and

–Export sales of 110,000 metric tons of soybeans for delivery to unknown destinations during the 2018/2019 marketing year.

The marketing year for soybeans began Sept. 1.

USDA issues both daily and weekly export sales reports to the public.  Exporters are required to report to USDA any export sales...

http://container-news.com/private-exporters-report-sales-activity/

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