ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 25, 2024 — In a letter to President Biden sent today, the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) and 55 organizations called on the U.S. government to act immediately to avert potential disruption at port operations along the East and Gulf Coasts.
“As the harvest season gets underway, even the slightest delay in moving American products efficiently has a disruptive and harmful effect on our supply chain and economy,” NGFA President and CEO Mike Seyfert said. “Keeping these ports open and operating at full capacity is critical to NGFA members and rural America.”
Approximately 40 percent of U.S. containerized agricultural exports move through the ports along the East and Gulf Coasts. Operations at these ports could be affected as early as Oct. 1 unless a resolution between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance is reached. The current labor agreement expires on Sept. 30.
“If port operations are stopped,” the letter read, “the impact on the ag supply chain will quickly reverberate throughout agriculture and not only slow or shutdown operations, but also potentially lower farmgate prices. To prevent a disruption to port operations along the East and Gulf Coasts, we request for your administration to act before a lockout or strike occurs to prevent damage to U.S. agriculture and the economy.”
The letter, organized by NGFA, was signed by leading trade groups representing farmers and ranchers, food manufacturers, renewable fuels producers, and others.
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The NGFA, established in 1896, consists of grain, feed, processing, exporting and other grain-related companies that operate 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.