U.S. Identity Preserved Alliance’s Legislative Team visits D.C.

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The United States Identity Preserved Alliance Legislative Team carried a strong message to Washington, D.C., in early February, focusing on export logistics, regulatory reform and long-term support for identity preserved markets. 

A primary focus of the trip was the team’s decision, in consultation with the Competitive Shipping Action Team, to assume a leadership role by advancing a proposal to Sen. John Thune’s (S.D.) office, with the goal of securing bipartisan co-sponsorship of an amendment to the Federal Maritime Commission reauthorization legislation currently before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. 

Throughout meetings with House and Senate offices, the team highlighted a proposed amendment aimed at addressing costly volatility in earliest return dates (ERDs) and related export logistics disruptions. Staff for Reps. Mary Miller (Ill.) and Brad Finstad (Minn.) and Sens. Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven (N.D.), Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), and Thune were briefed on how frequent earliest return date (ERD) changes undermine containerized exports and drive-up costs for shippers, particularly identity preserved and specialty grain exporters. The team emphasized that while the Ocean Shipping Reform Act improved rules on detention and demurrage, it did not fully capture ERD-related abuses and needs a statutory fix. 

Multiple offices requested a copy of the U.S. Identity Preserved Alliance’s letter to Sen. Thune outlining amendment language, and several suggested additional outreach to Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee members and other key senators and representatives to build bipartisan support. 

 A second core theme of the visit was inland intermodal container availability and the need for a sustainable public–private solution to reposition containers into key producing regions. The legislative team described ongoing work with USDA and industry partners on a potential partnership model to improve container flows for exporters in the Midwest and other interior origins. Congressional offices were briefed on how chronic equipment shortages and unreliable inland ramps are undermining U.S. export competitiveness and threatening premium identity preserved supply chains. 

USDA’s High-Quality Specialty Grains–linked phytosanitary program was highlighted as a proof point: thousands of container inspections have been completed through the U.S. Identity Preserved Alliance-administered program without any reported foreign buyer issues. The team also reiterated the need to extend that success to additional specialty crops, including peas and pulses. 

The trip included a substantive series of discussions at the Federal Maritime Commission, where the delegation met with newly confirmed Chairperson Laura Dibella, along with Commissioners Max Vekich, Dan Maffei and Rebecca Dye. The team outlined the ongoing concerns about unreasonable practices tied to booking procedures and shifting ERD dates. 

Visits with the American Soybean Association, National Grain and Feed Association, and North American Export Grain Association underscored organizations’ mutual interests and continuing to foster an open collaborative effort and open dialogue between these organizations and rounded out the itinerary. 

Across meetings with Congress, USDA and industry groups, the team underscored the organization’s rebranding from Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance to the U.S. Identity Preserved Alliance and its broader mission. 

Industry groups bring questions for UP/NS Merger

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In light of the Dec. 19, 2025, Union Pacific Railroad (UP) merger application filing with the Surface Transportation Board, different industry groups are surfacing with their questions and challenges for the approval of a coast-to-coast railroad merger.   

Recently, the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) filed comments with the STB that underscore the incompleteness of UP’s application and encourages STB to request additional information before considering the application as complete. 

NGFA’s comments reference the Major Rail Consolidation Procedures that STB implemented in 2001, which requires a major merger application to contain specific and detailed information about how the applicants will not only preserve existing competition but enhance it, as well. This encompasses a plan to combat every competitive harm that could result from the merger, not just the loss of rail-to-rail competition.  

NGFA states, “while the application does outline three “commitments” to preserve and enhance competition, only one of the commitments – “a Committed Gateway Pricing program to extend the merger’s benefits to more customers” – enhances competition. Competitive harm is a serious consequence affecting not only rail shippers but entire sectors of the economy through the elimination of markets and destinations for products and services”. NGFA’s comments highlight the need for a more robust, detailed plan instead of the vague and generic discussion highlighted in UP’s application. 

Furthermore, in its comments, NGFA also pointed out that the proposed Service Assurance Plan is unsatisfactory. The plan doesn’t comply with the requirement for a process to compensate shippers for service failures and provides little information on back-up or contingency plans involving other rail carriers. Many in the grain industry have consistently urged for Service Level Agreements that guarantee minimum levels of service as a rail provider be instituted – past mergers have promised service assurance, only to have fallen well short of those promised increased levels of service and benefit to shippers.  

The U.S. Identity Preserved Alliance will host a webinar February 11 to present perspectives from industry associations and experts on the potential benefits and challenges of a proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. Transportation Go, taking place April 8-9 in Chicago, will likely fall within the public comment period for the merger and will feature discussions among stakeholders supporting and opposing the proposal. 

New year, new name: SSGA is now United States Identity Preserved Alliance

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The Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) has changed the organization’s name to the United States Identity Preserved Alliance, reflecting the brand’s proactive leadership in advancing the U.S. Identity Preserved value chain and strengthening premium U.S. agriculture’s global reputation for quality, traceability and food safety. 

Since the organization’s creation in 2019, the U.S. Identity Preserved Alliance has served as the leading business alliance of identity preserved agriculture in the United States. In 2021, SSGA launched the U.S. Identity Preserved assurance protocol, a voluntary, third-party program that verifies companies’ identity preserved systems and ensures high-value crops maintain their integrity from the seed to end-user. The transition to the United States Identity Preserved Alliance provides a clearer message to global buyers and clarifies that the Alliance is a permanent steward of the assurance protocol. 

“The new name represents more than a change in branding. It solidifies that our focus is identity preserved agriculture,” said Randy Duckworth, U.S. Identity Preserved Alliance executive director. “Identity preservation is a growing priority as non-GMO, trait-specific and sustainably linked crops expand and industry demands more traceability. The United States Identity Preserved Alliance name can future-proof our organization.” 

The U.S. Identity Preserved Alliance will continue to advance key priorities established under SSGA, including transportation policy, container shipping and market development efforts. 

“Our new identity provides a stronger value position for the verified users using the U.S. Identity Preserved label in their packaging and marketing as a unified mark of quality assurance,” said Bryan Severs, U.S. Identity Preserved Alliance chair. “The change will also better align with our education and outreach and events, such as the upcoming Identity Preserved International Summit.“

In addition to the IP International Summit, which will take place March 22-24 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, “the U.S. Identity Preserved Alliance is holding its annual meeting April 7 and Transportation Go! conference on April 8-9, both in Chicago. 

About the United States Identity Preserved Alliance 

The United States Identity Preserved Alliance, formerly known as SSGA, is the business alliance of identity preserved agriculture in the United States. The U.S. Identity Preserved Alliance is the leading voice for the industry that delivers traceable, high-quality, variety-specific field crops to food markets worldwide. Its members include producers, processors, suppliers and transportation allies whose work ensures integrity throughout the supply chain. 

IP Crop Network- July update report

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The Midwest knows corn should be “knee high by the Fourth of July,” and extreme heat and humidity in parts of the region have helped blow past that marker. The weather has mostly helped crops grow quickly, while some areas have seen too much rain and are looking for a few dry days in the forecast. 

The Michigan soybean crop continues to make progress after passing the longest day of the year. The most advanced fields are now at R2 while others are still in vegetative stages. NASS reports that 25% of the crop is blooming, which compares to the five-year average of 19% at this point. Crop conditions are variable across the state, which has been affected by delayed planting and excess rainfall. NASS has the crop rated at 43% fair, 43% good and 5% excellent. Corn for the most part looks pretty good – first planted is not far from flag leaf while later planted is knee to waist high. 84% of the corn falls within the fair to good range. Wheat will be ready for harvest later this week or early next in the southeast part of the state, and 9% of the crop has been harvested statewide. The past couple of weeks have been very warm in most areas, but temperatures were cool before that, which slowed soybean growth. Stands are adequate in most areas. Post herbicide applications have been effective in controlling weeds but have caused more than normal crop response due to sunny and hot conditions during and after applications. Most crop responses were cosmetic with new growth being healthy and normal.  

Wisconsin’s soybean crop is progressing as expected in early July. Emergence is complete, and most fields have entered the blooming stage, with some beginning pod set ahead of the five-year average. June weather included steady rainfall and warm temperatures, supporting vegetative growth and timely crop development. Soil moisture levels are mostly within the adequate to surplus range, which has maintained crop health. This resulted in isolated areas that remain too wet for consistent access or late field applications. Crop condition ratings in Wisconsin are at 54% good to excellent, slightly below last year yet within typical ranges. Most fields display uniform canopy closure and nodulation. As the crop enters reproductive stages, scouting for white mold, sudden death syndrome and insect feeding will be necessary, especially under forecasted warm and humid conditions. Early indicators point to a potentially productive season if July weather conditions remain stable. Ongoing disease management, nutrient monitoring and timely fieldwork will continue to influence yield potential.  

Illinois is actually in a slight drought, at odds with the rest of the country. Over 30% of cropland in Illinois is short in moisture for both topsoil and subsoil. Precipitation has been really scattered, and areas that haven’t gotten much rain are showing it in the yards and ditches with dead grass. The lack of rain hasn’t hurt the beans and corn yet – they’re rooting well to get down to the nutrients – but cracks are beginning to show in the field. Beans in east-central Illinois are in R2 but getting close to R3 meaning a fungicide application. Farmers are prepping to get out in the field and do just that. Last week’s hot temperatures helped the corn to tassel, and 21% is tasseled throughout the state. 38% of beans are blooming, and 5% have started setting pods. Overall, Illinois is looking for a general rain to keep the plants healthy. 

Minnesota is extremely wet throughout most areas. Soil moisture conditions are over 90% in the adequate to surplus range for both topsoil and subsoil. While crops on tile ground are handling the water, some dry days are needed to let the beans get caught up to where they should be. Soybeans are about 5% below average when it comes to blooming but are overall mostly within the fair to good condition range. Corn is right on track with the 5-year average and falls mostly under the good condition range. There is more rain in the forecast for the next two weeks, so hopes are the forecast lessens on rain amounts. 

In North Dakota, the soybean crop is overall average. The weather over the past two weeks has been above average in both temperatures and moisture, which has resulted in good growth.. There are some areas that are dry, but so far, the soybeans are doing well in those areas. Soybeans are ahead of the five-year blooming average, sitting at 24%. 

SSGA’s IP Crop Network is published twice a month, highlighting growing conditions for identity preserved crops from different regions around the country. The reports include both firsthand accounts and data from the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) weekly Crop Progress reports. 

New Member Profile: Non-GMO Project

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The Non-GMO Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was established in 2007.  

“It was founded during a time when GMOs were kind of top of the news cycle,” said Cameron Miller, Non-GMO Project chief executive of business strategy and innovation. “There was concern across just the general populace at large about GMOs coming to the market.”  

Through this concern, two different retailers came together to consider how to inform consumers about what was in their food. 

The company’s mission is to build and preserve the non-GMO food supply for all. Through a rigorous standard, the organization provides labels to non-GMO foods, allowing consumers to choose for themselves if they want to purchase GMOs or not. This process allows the standard to remain consistent across different states, even if state regulations are different.  

“Our theory of change is that by creating a demand and premium for products that are non-GMO at the consumer level, we incent consumer packaged goods companies to create products that are non-GMO. Through that there’s a pull-through effect through the supply chain,” Miller said. “I would say we’ve exceeded our wildest dreams in terms of market impact.” 

Joining SSGA 

As one of the newest members of the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance , the Non-GMO Project is hoping to expand its reach up the processing chain – not only reaching consumers, but producers and farmers as well. Some members  of SSGA are already Non-GMO Project-verified, but the organization is hoping to reach more in the early section of the supply chain. 

“I would say that SSGA is uniquely positioned, and we’re really excited to be a member and get to know your folks better and see how we might better help, support and add value for you all,” Miller said. 

Miller and Hans Eisenbeis, director of mission & messaging, presented about their organization during SSGA’s June 25 board meeting.  

SSGA Director Bob Sinner believes the addition of the Non-GMO Project to SSGA’s membership is a good fit. 

“The Non-GMO Project team has done a nice job gathering data as it relates to both non-GMO and organic consumer demand,” he said. “This fits well into the wheelhouse of SSGA IP suppliers of food quality ingredients as they analyze and expand their marketing efforts, particularly in the United States.” 

 

U.S. Identity Preserved brandmark goes international

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Korea, Nepal companies now certified to use U.S. Identity Preserved on retail packaging 

Assurance of a quality product is now being felt across the world with the first international companies becoming certified to stamp the U.S. Identity Preserved mark on their food products.  

The U.S. Identity Preserved assurance plan and brand mark program has been in place since December 2021. Since then, 18 U.S. companies have been certified by the program, which is managed by the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA). This marks the first time the brand has been licensed to foreign companies for use on their retail packaging and/or promotional materials. 

“It was a hallmark day for the U.S. Identity Preserved program. The first foreign user of the brand mark and his many customers in Kathmandu are passionate about the U.S. crops they are importing and turning into wonderful, innovative foods,” said Shane Frederick, manager of strategic programs at SSGA.  

The newly certified businesses include Shree Radhe Rani International Trading, a soy food company in Nepal, which was awarded its certificate on Sept. 19 during SSGA’s U.S. Identity Preserved Workshop in Kathmandu. In addition, a South Korean company recently received approval to use the mark on products made from specialty buckwheat imported from the U.S. 

“It’s a privilege to use the U.S. Identity Preserved label,” said Gaurav Agrawal, managing director of Shree Radhe Rani International Trading. “We have an additional responsibility to ensure the integrity of the soybean and give 100% more in our efforts.” 

Agrawal first became interested in the brandmark after attending SSGA’s inaugural Identity Preserved international Summit in Jan. 2023. He later purchased the first ever commercial shipment of identity preserved soybeans to South Asia, which arrived in March 2024. 

“In just a few months since the first container of U.S. IP soybeans arrived in Nepal, consumers are already reporting differences in taste and quality, while manufacturers are seeing results in production efficiencies,” Frederick said. “They could hardly wait to show off the origin of their new ingredients.” 

Those soybeans have since appeared in a variety of soy snacks, such as roasted soy nuts and crunchy fried soy snacks, as well as tofu, soymilk, soy flour and other soy foods around Kathmandu. 

One shopkeeper said, “Nepalis have noticed the taste and have made the change,” regarding tofu made with U.S. Identity Preserved beans. Reports of more consistent size, compared to local beans, makes it easier to produce the final product; a sweeter flavor and crunch as consumers seek different taste and texture. There are economic efficiencies, too, including a ready-to-make quality that eliminates extra cleaning and sorting. 

All in all, there’s an ability to innovate and make more products with different tastes. 

The U.S. Identity Preserved brand mark guarantees the specific, desirable traits of an identity preserved grain or oilseed grown in the U.S. are maintained throughout each step of production and transportation to the end user. Verified users of the U.S. Identity Preserved mark agree to an eight-step assurance plan to ensure the integrity of an identity preserved product from the seed to the end-user.  

Companies interested in joining the U.S. Identity Preserved assurance plan or using the label on their retail packaging can learn more at usidentitypreserved.org. 

SSGA applauds Ocean Shipping Reform Act passage

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Relief is finally in sight for agricultural shippers, after President Biden signed the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 on Thursday.

The law will ensure a more competitive global ocean shipping industry and provide relief to U.S. exporters, including Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA)-member agricultural exporters, who have struggled with significant supply chain disruptions over the past two years. It will also provide the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) with new, additional enforcement authority to address unreasonable and unfair ocean carrier practices that have been harmful to U.S. exporters, including prohibiting carriers from unreasonably declining opportunities to U.S. exports.

“The Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 gives the Federal Maritime Commission additional authority and tools to protect U.S. exporters from ocean carrier practices they determine to be unfair and illegal,” said Darwin Rader of Zeeland Farm Services, an SSGA board director and chair of the alliance’s competitive shipping action team. “Hopefully, the end result will be that U.S. ag exporters will have the opportunity to ship their goods to customers around the globe in a timely manner at a fair price.”

SSGA Chair Rob Prather, AgTC Executive Director Peter Friedmann and SSGA Executive Director Eric Wenberg

The House first passed a version of the bill in December, and the Senate passed its version by unanimous consent on March 31. Rather than reconcile the two bills by conference committee, the House opted to pass the Senate version. The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Senate version of the bill, 369-42 on Monday, and the president signed it at a ceremony on Thursday at the White House.

SSGA appreciates the hard work of the bill’s sponsors, Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and John Thune (R-S.D.), and Reps. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) and Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) for their bipartisan efforts in getting through the bill that will support agricultural shippers.

“We applaud the work that’s been done so far,” SSGA Executive Director Eric Wenberg said. “We’ve used our expertise in intermodal shipping to inform and educate the debate and will continue to do so. With three of the four congressional sponsors being from South Dakota and Minnesota, we trust that the message is clear and that the final rule, when it emerges, will support agricultural shippers from the central United States.”

SSGA has long supported passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act and has worked since October 2020 to inform the general public about the supply chain crisis, working on behalf of its members who export high-quality, Identity Preserved and specialty grains and oilseeds to help them meet the needs of their overseas customers.

Lack of service, carrier cancelations, delays and rising freight rates and fees had “reached a condition critical situation,” said SSGA Chairman Rob Prather, chief strategic ambassador for Iowa-based Global Processing, affected business and have had a human toll, as well, causing hardships to logistics staffs, farmers, truckers, suppliers and customers both in the U.S. and abroad.

This week, SSGA held its quarterly board meeting in Tacoma, Washington and attended the Agriculture Transportation Coalition’s (AgTC) annual meeting there. During the AgTC meeting, Klobuchar, in a video message, acknowledged SSGA, among others, for supporting the Ocean Shipping Reform Act and for championing ag exports.

SSGA also has great appreciation for AgTC and its efforts to help get the act to Congress.

The Ocean Shipping Reform Act will:

  • Require ocean carriers to certify that late fees — known as “detention and demurrage” charges— comply with federal regulations or face penalties;
  • Shift burden of proof regarding the reasonableness of “detention or demurrage” charges from the invoiced party to the ocean carrier;
  • Prohibit ocean carriers from unreasonably refusing cargo space accommodations for U.S. exports and from discriminating against U.S. exporters;
  • Require ocean common carriers to report to the FMC each calendar quarter on total import/export tonnage and 20-foot equivalent units (loaded/empty) per vessel that makes port in the United States;
  • Authorize the FMC to self-initiate investigations of ocean common carrier’s business practices and apply enforcement measures, as appropriate; and
  • Establish new authority for the FMC to register shipping exchanges.

“This new legislation is important and long overdue,” said SSGA board director Bob Sinner of SB&B Foods. “We’ve been waiting for this for many, many months. I am hopeful that the rulemaking that follows this legislation ensures that equipment gets where it’s needed. At the end of the day that’s what’s needed in rural America.”

Ocean Shipping Reform Act to become law

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Ag shippers from central U.S. in need of relief

More than 2 ½ years ago, the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance was one of the first agricultural associations to sound the alarm on the crisis taking place in container shipping. Finally, some relief is in sight, as the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 is heading to President Biden’s desk. On Monday, U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Senate version of the bill, 369-42.

The House first passed a version of the bill in December, and the Senate passed its version by unanimous consent on March 31. Rather than reconcile the two bills by conference committee, the House opted to pass the Senate version.

SSGA acknowledges the bill’s sponsors, Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and John Thune (R-S.D.), and Reps. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) and Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) for their bipartisan efforts in getting through a bill that would provide the Federal Maritime Commission with new, additional enforcement authority. It also will ensure a more competitive global ocean shipping industry and provide relief to U.S. exporters, including SSGA-member agricultural exporters, who have struggled with significant supply chain disruptions over the past two years.

“We applaud the work that’s been done so far,” SSGA Executive Director Eric Wenberg said. “We’ve used our expertise in intermodal shipping to inform and educate the debate and will continue to do so. With three of the four congressional sponsors being from South Dakota and Minnesota, we trust that the message is clear and that the final rule, when it emerges, will support agricultural shippers from the central United States.”

Once signed, the law also would provide additional enforcement tools to address unreasonable and unfair ocean carrier practices that have been harmful to U.S. exporters, including prohibiting carriers from unreasonably declining opportunities to U.S. exports.

On Tuesday, SSGA will hold its quarterly board meeting in Tacoma, Washington, prior to the annual meeting of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition’s annual meeting where senators and representatives who sponsored the Ocean Shipping Reform Act are scheduled to appear.

SSGA has long supported passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act and has worked since October 2020 to inform the general public about the supply chain crisis, working on behalf of its members who export high-quality, Identity Preserved and specialty grains and oilseeds to help them meet the needs of their overseas customers.

Lack of service, carrier cancelations, delays and rising freight rates and fees have “reached a condition critical situation,” according to SSGA Chairman Rob Prather, chief strategic ambassador for Iowa-based Global Processing, affected business and have had a human toll, as well, causing hardships to logistics staffs, farmers, truckers, suppliers and customers both in the U.S. and abroad.

SSGA announces U.S. Identity Preserved: An advancement in food traceability

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Quality assurance plan benefits the U.S. soybean and specialty grain markets and global food manufacturers

The Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance announces the introduction of U.S. Identity Preserved, a designation signifying a premium crop with a verifiable origin. This quality assurance program represents a significant advancement in food traceability for food manufacturers, processors and exporters.

As traceability in food production becomes increasingly preferred by consumers and manufacturers, the U.S. Identity Preserved (IP) quality assurance plan and accompanying designation and website, USidentitypreserved.org, represent a step forward for customers looking for grains with specific traits or qualities such as variety, protein and sugar levels, color, bean size or flavor. When manufacturers purchase a U.S. Identity Preserved product, they can be assured the grains are traceable from their fields of origin throughout the process of production, processing, packaging and distribution, which provides the knowledge and assurance customers need.

“With our U.S. Identity Preserved designation, we’re delivering a quality assurance plan that brings together the U.S. IP industry and reinforces the United States as a quality origin for those IP crops,” said Eric Wenberg, executive director, Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance. “U.S. Identity Preserved will help U.S. processors and exporters broaden access and open more foreign markets, as well as better compete in the international market.”

Crops Grown with a Purpose

Customers can order specifically what they need for the future so IP producers can grow it today. This ensures quality, consistency and safety of food; fork-to-farm traceability, and a dependable supply so it is worthwhile for growers and customers alike.

“As a launch partner, Global Processing will begin using this new, industry-defining mark that signifies the value of U.S. Identity Preserved field crops,” said Rob Prather, chief strategic ambassador at Global Processing Inc and SSGA’s vice-chair. “This program enhances our offerings in sustainable, traceable and regenerative products ensuring a stable, consistent and healthy global food supply.”

Value adds value

With growing consumer and retail demand for increased understanding of how and from where food is produced, traceability has never been more vital. Growers participating in the program must follow rigorous specifications throughout the production process (pre-planting through harvest), storage, processing and distribution. This includes taking great care to avoid any cross-contamination, adhering to field verifications and program audits, chain of custody verification, proper labeling and product identification and other checks and assurances.

“The value U.S. Identity Preserved processors offer comes through the strict protocols and safety measures that ensure the quality, consistency and security of their products throughout the value chain,” Wenberg said. “Identity Preserved products demand a premium because of the close attention IP farmers, processors and shippers pay to quality requirements and safety and the commitment to fulfill the needs of their customers.”

Learn more about the designation, its benefits, the IP value chain and how to get involved at USIdentityPreserved.org.

‘We need action now’: Ag exporters seek remedy for shipping crisis

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300 ag groups, companies sign letter to transportation secretary

As the container shipping crisis continues its crippling effect on U.S. exporters, the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) joined nearly 300 agricultural and forest product associations and companies – including several SSGA members – this week in signing on to a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, urging immediate intervention to remedy the situation.

“We need action now,” the letter states, “not additional studies.”

SSGA agrees, as U.S. exporters and their access to foreign markets must be protected.

The letter requests that the Department of Transportation assist the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) “in expediting its enforcement options” and “consider its existing authorities” to determine how it can assist U.S. exporters and the ag producers they serve in their transportation needs.

For more than six months, U.S. ag exporters, including SSGA members who supply Identity Preserved (IP) soya and specialty grains for food manufacture, have suffered under unreasonable practices by ocean carriers. These practices include the declining of U.S. agricultural and other exports in favor of sending empty containers back overseas in order to keep up with the massive demand for consumer imports.

The imbalance has caused congestion, delays and even cancelation at the ports, and carriers have failed to provide accurate notice of arrival, departure and loading times. Carriers have also imposed unreasonable, punitive financial penalties on exporters, who, through no fault of their own, have missed loading windows. This is in violation of detention and demurrage guidelines set forth by the FMC. SSGA and other associations have previously supported FMC’s investigation into these practices.

It has been estimated that $1.5 billion in ag exports has been lost during this crisis, which has come on the heels of a pandemic that has also severely injured the market.

With no sign of the crisis letting up in the immediate future, SSGA is hopeful that Secretary Buttigieg will act upon this increasingly dire situation. Our members, allies and partners at the Agriculture Transportation Coalition have specific measures to propose and are requesting the opportunity to present them.

Copies of the letter were also sent to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and leadership of the Senate and House transportation committees. The letter can be found here.