Latest News From Infrastructure

President Biden delivered a defiant argument for a second term in his SOTU speech Thursday. From the economy to his thoughts on infrastructure, the border and climate, there were several key takeaways for agriculture.

This fall, Farm Journal’s Chip Flory and Michelle Rook traveled to the Port of Grays Harbor in Washington and the Port of South Louisiana. Here's what they learned about two very different ports with two important jobs.

Dredging the Mississippi River to a depth of 50' allows 500,000 more soybean bushels to be loaded per vessel, which helps lower freight rates and adds to the value of the soybeans exported.

The port of South Louisiana is the No. 1 export port for grain by volume in the U.S., so it's important for U.S. farmers getting their product to export markets. 

The Last Acre Act would help expand high-speed internet access across eligible farmland, ranchland and farm sites. At least 15% of farms and ranches have no access to the internet today. 

The projects are focused on strengthening supply chain reliability, creating workforce development opportunities, speeding up the movement of goods, and improving the safety, reliability and resilience of ports. 

The Panama Canal is now cutting its daily ship transits by half this winter due to severe drought.

An increase in crushing capacity means there's going to be more soybean meal available for export. To prepare for that transition, infrastructure improvements are being made at the Port of Grays Harbor in Washington.

Carbon dioxide pipelines are not new – but they’re making news. There is a major effort to build a new pipeline network to transport CO2 from ethanol and fertilizer plants to underground storage.

The historically low water levels on the Mississippi River have caused a trifecta in the soybean market.  Its increased freight weights, slammed basis levels and taken a real toll on exports.

In total, $1.4 billion will go toward 70 projects in 35 states.

It’s game time says Soy Transportation Coalition executive director Mike Steenhoek, and key waterway infrastructure systems are not ready. 

Carbon pipelines are stirring up controversy. According to John Phipps, projects like pipelines, transmission lines or solar arrays are bitterly and usually unsuccessfully opposed, but only by those affected.

After record low water levels on many of the major rivers used for export movement in 2022, agriculture could see a repeat this fall.

Bill 3372 could lower greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate factors leading to supply chain backlogs, reduce damage to roads, and provide an extra set of brakes to improve stopping capacity and safety, one lawmaker says.

California wastes water, hindering farmers' ability to grow crops. Farmers are ready to conserve, but we need officials who prioritize the future.

California wastes water, hindering farmers' ability to grow crops. Farmers are ready to conserve, but we need officials who prioritize the future.

Seven U.S. states along the drought-starved Colorado River have reached a deal with the Biden administration to conserve water in a "historic consensus" to prevent supply problems for big cities as well as farmers.

Rural electric cooperatives, utilities and other energy providers will soon be able to apply for nearly $11 billion in grants and loans for clean energy projects, funded by the $430 billion Inflation Reduction Act.

As the upper Mississippi River continues to rise, USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says the worst is yet to come, with a top 10 flood crest not expected near the Quad Cities for as much as two more weeks.

For a developed country as large as the US, we are almost unique in our lack of robust rail capabilities. John Phipps answers a viewer's question about the possibility of updating the rail system to move grain faster.

The electric economy is ready to roll into town this decade as battery technology improves, renewable power generation expands and automakers buy in to a future powered by something other than gasoline and diesel. 

The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association supports the adoption of the Local Farms and Food Act, which backers claim will help local growers, in the 2023 farm bill.

Agriculture is watching the ongoing contract negotiations between the unions at West Coast ports as tensions rise. However, the unreliability of shipping has already caused a shift in business to East Coast ports.

What is the true cost of manufacturing green energies? John Phipps says in order to answer the question, it's important to first clear up confusion about what green even means.

Waste issues for renewables may seem huge but not when compared to the alternatives. John Phipps says one problem is the availability bias. He analyzes the cost of the waste compared to alternatives in Customer Support.

Since states have majority control of utility policies and rates, the differences between renewable and fossil fuel-generated electricity is dramatic. California has a duck curve for electricity demand and solar supply.

STB Chairman Martin Oberman hosted a press conference—the first of its kind that he said anyone could remember—to explain more behind the decision, which approves the first major merger in 25 years. 

“When Ukraine fails, in terms of their ability to produce agricultural products, the world becomes less safe,” says Howard Buffett, global philanthropist and Illinois farmer.

With improved snowpack in areas such as Montana and precipitation through the midsection of the country late last fall and this winter, the Mississippi River and its tributaries could be back to normal by this spring. 

Has U.S. gasoline demand peaked? And what will more electric vehicles mean for gasoline prices down the road? John Phipps looks into the issue in John's World.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been dredging the river 24 hours a day, 7 days a week since July but hopes to finish very soon.

It's The Sketchy Cybersecurity News January edition!

"The goal is to gather data and best practices to deploy the sites to farms across the country, widening the scope of land for solar developers and providing farmers with another revenue stream," the program manager says

The House on Friday averted a government shutdown by voting 225 to 201 in favor of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023—the omnibus spending bill. Here's what's in it for ag.

The Fertilizer Institute applauded the passage of the legislation, which it dubbed an “integral” component of the fertilizer distribution system.

According to Biden’s economic advisors, as many as 765,000 Americans — many union workers themselves — would have been put out of work in the first two weeks of shutdowns.

Congress is stepping in to avert a nationwide railroad strike, which was set to happen as early as December 9.

With less than two weeks from a railroad strike deadline, President Biden plans to call on Congress to take action to avert a shutdown of the country’s freight railroads. . .

A year ago, USDA scientists announced a process to make sustainable aviation fuel from soybean oil. Commodity organizations looked at the aviation fuel consumption data and fell in love, but Johns Phipps has questions.

Harvest is nearing the finish line, but as corn continues to pile up, there are renewed concerns about what a possible rail strike could mean for the grain industry, as well as fertilizer needs this fall.

Rural America, and farmers especially are skeptical to put it mildly about electric vehicles and tractors. John Phipps says this attitude is reasonable, but also myopic, and explains why in John's World.

Unions are arguing railroads haven't done enough to address worker concerns, largely surrounding working conditions and paid time off.

John Phipps already talked about the numerous plans to build semiconductor factories. The key word is “plans”. This enthusiasm to spend billions, much of it government money, may not generate the results we imagine.

Friday brought mixed news for the economy. So, is the U.S. officially in a recession? K-State economists say it's more important to watch changes in behaviors versus debating the definition of recession.

Agriculture isn't out of the woods regarding rail transportation issues as new demands are being made by at least one union.  

"The low water disruption will be felt not only by our U.S. producers of food, farm, and fiber but also by U.S. and international consumers as well," says Friedmann of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition.

The U.S. is projected to have record ag exports for the marketing year but is still posting a trade deficit.  Plus, headwinds such as slow water levels on the Mississippi River are adding to trade concerns.

A labor strike along U.S. railroads is still a possibility after the third-largest railroad union rejected a tentative labor agreement this week. The agreement had the support of the White House.

Would repealing the Jones Act have an economic effect on agriculture? John Phipps explains why repealing the act would be minimally beneficial for some industries, but have a major impact on others in the U.S.