Help for meat exports is on the way. USDA says it is stepping up to improve services for shippers.
The department is taking action at the Port of Houston, and it will cover some leasing costs of 1,000 additional chassis. $500 million worth of goods were exported through that port last year.
The Agency is also expanding its partnership with the Northwest Seaport Alliance to enhance access to the temporary pop-up storage site at Seattle/Tacoma.
Lawmakers are tackling shipping issues for the meat industry with the Ocean Shipping Reform Act. Under the new law, U.S. meat exports must be moved to their destinations in a more timely fashion because there is less room for ocean carriers to decline cargo.
U.S. Meat Export Federation President, Dan Halstrom tells us what this means for the industry.
“Fresh chilled product, never frozen, is our bread and butter. I mean, this is what sets U.S. beef and U.S. pork apart from most other supply sources in the world. A reliable delivery service is really what we need. You could ship it, but if it doesn’t deliver on time, this is a problem. So, very key that we get back on a mode of being reliable in our deliveries, and I think this act should go a long way in helping get us to the right road.”
Halstrom says they have been pushing for this reform for a while and he is happy it is finally here.
Related:
Zippy Duvall shares personal conversation with President Biden about shipping reform
Critical Timing: farm groups applaud Ocean Shipping Reform Act passage
USMEF: red meat exports deliver value back to corn and soybean producers
