Agriculture groups urge White House action ahead of possible ports strike By Reuters

CHICAGO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Nearly 200 agriculture organizations on Friday morning urged the White House to address key U.S. agricultural supply chain issues in the face of a potential East and Gulf Coast port strike that could begin on Tuesday.

The groups said the industry is facing “imminent and severe shipping disruptions” from a potential work stoppage, snarled rail lines and historically low river levels backing up grain barge shipments and impacting trade with Mexico, according to a letter reviewed by Reuters.

The groups asked the federal government to direct the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the lower Mississippi River to maintain 12-foot-deep channels, and step in to reopen the movement of grain by rail from the U.S. to Mexico.