The National Corn Growers Association and the U.S. Grains Council have teamed up to sponsor a seven-part series on the importance of infrastructure to agriculture production and exports.
The Agri-Pulse series. titled “Keeping Rural America Competitive,” is a result of the Rural Infrastructure Summit in Iowa earlier this year. The summit brought together companies and organizations to brainstorm ideas addressing global population growth, exports and market access while making sure rural communities are strengthened in the process.
An article by reporter Ed Maixner featured in the Agri-Pulse series tackles the issues facing individual farm infrastructure and its effect on exports.
The article said economists estimate that 30 percent of the U.S. corn crop is sent overseas as grain, feed products, ethanol, syrup and oil so farm infrastructure and ports need to be prepared for that volume.
In 2013, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave an overall grade of D to nationwide infrastructure. ASCE believes states have enough money to maintain roads, but are $11 billion short for long-term projects.
Coastal ports and private ports will invest $150 billion between now and 2020 which, according to the American Association of Port Authorities, is more than triple what was planned for 2012-2016.
In addition to Maixner’s article, the series, which can be found on the Agri-Pulse website, also features articles on infrastructure financing, the importance of connectivity and keeping infrastructure from falling behind.
More Stories
- CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD & AGRICULTURE: CDFA Announces one Vacancy on the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee
- AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION: Support Ag Literacy Through the AFB Foundation for Agriculture’s Online Silent Auction
- AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION: Farm Bureau: Members Accept Leadership Roles on National Committees
- CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD & AGRICULTURE: CDFA Office of the Farm to Fork Invites Application for 2021 Farm to School Grants
- CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD & AGRICULTURE: CDFA Awards Funding to Support Agricultural Education and Leadership Opportunities as part of the Calag Plate Program
- AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION: AFBF Welcomes Nomination of Katherine Tai for U.S. Trade Representative
- CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD & AGRICULTURE: CDFA Announces Vacancies on Feed Inspection Advisory Board Technical Advisory Subcomittee
- AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION: AFBF Stands-Up for Farmers in Predatory Shakedown
- CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD & AGRICULTURE: CFDA Issues Stop Use Notice and Statewide Quarantine on Organic Fertilizer AGRO Gold WS
- AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION: Registration Open for American Farm Bureau Virtual Convention, Featuring Mike Rowe, Rorke Denver and Beth Ford