As a result of the chaos in 2021 and 2020, Brett Bruggeman, president of WinField United, told DTN this fall that ag input suppliers have poured more resources into their forecasting and delivery systems and worked to develop tighter relationships with the manufacturing industry.
TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES
The movement of agriculture commodities and other products across the country, and in the export market, was slowed as a result of a backlog of ships entering U.S. waters and fewer ships making the trek back across the Pacific Ocean.
Movement of products in the U.S. has been pressured by a shortage of commercial truck drivers.
In November, members of Congress from both parties began holding hearings and considering ways to increase the number of truck drivers.
At least 80,000 drivers are needed, but it’s been difficult to recruit people for those jobs. Lawmakers and the industry began considering allowing people under age 21 to drive semi-trucks across state lines.
Farmers in northern California, for example, have been having difficulty exporting crops produced in already challenging drought conditions.
The Associated Press reported California tree nut farmers, for example, had about 80% of scheduled shipments canceled as a result of the shipping backlogs.
By some estimates, as high as 70% of containers on West Coast ports are sent back empty to Asia.
A worker shortage created many challenges for food and agriculture businesses. (See https://www.dtnpf.com/…)
Ed Cinco, director of purchasing for Schwebel’s Baking Co. in Youngstown, Ohio, told federal lawmakers in November that a shortage of workers forced them to shut down production lines.
Trade experts believe farmers and ranchers who may be hoping for a quick resolution of supply chain problems dogging agriculture and other industries may not see it for some time.
**
To see more DTN stories through the year on the various supply chain shortages and their impact on ag:
— “Ag Chem Supplies: Four Things to Know Heading Into 2022”
— “Increasing Fertilizer Demand, Less Supply Combine to Push Retail Prices Higher in 2021,”
— “Weed Control Workarounds for Herbicide Shortages,”
— “Farmers Mostly Managing Parts Shortages, but Equipment Delays Still Causing Headaches,” https://www.dtnpf.com/…
— Finding Truckers Is One Key to Attacking National Supply Chain Crisis,”
— “Even $70,000-Plus a Year Top Pay for a Service Tech Gets No Takers in This Job Market,”
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Editor’s Note:
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Todd Neeley can be reached at [email protected]
Follow him on Twitter @DTNeeley
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