ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 1, 2022 — National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) President and CEO Mike Seyfert issued the following statement after the Senate approved a resolution today to implement the tentative agreement brokered by the Biden administration with rail labor unions and management. The House approved the measure on Nov. 30. It now heads to President Biden’s desk for signature.
“NGFA members, which include 1,000 companies that handle U.S. grains and oilseeds, commend Congress for working in a bipartisan manner to avert a national rail shutdown. Resilient and reliable rail service is essential to the daily operations of NGFA members and is crucial to a functioning agricultural economy. We thank President Joe Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for understanding the urgency required to prevent severe economic damage.
NGFA members partner with the railroad industry on almost 15 percent of total U.S. carloads on a rail network that moves about 1.5 million carloads of U.S. grain annually and about 1.2 million carloads of grain products, such as flour, soybean oil and meal, dried distillers grains and ethanol.
As an association representing a segment of the agricultural supply chain that directly interfaces with freight railroads, we will continue working with our rail industry partners, the Surface Transportation Board and lawmakers for sensible policy measures that guarantee the strength, stability and reliability of this important transportation system moving forward.”
-30-
The NGFA, established in 1896, consists of grain, feed, processing, exporting and other grain-related companies that operate more than 8,000 facilities handling U.S. grains and oilseeds. Its membership includes grain elevators; feed and feed ingredient manufacturers; biofuels companies; grain and oilseed processors and millers; exporters; livestock and poultry integrators; and associated firms that provide goods and services to the nation’s grain, feed and processing industry. The NGFA consists of 27 affiliated State and Regional Grain and Feed Associations, is co-located and has a strategic alliance with North American Export Grain Association, and a strategic alliance with Pet Food Institute.