The supply chain has been the bane of our existence for over two years now. For one reason or another, any product we regularly use has been subject to this issue.
Not only are we having trouble getting products, but we are also seeing huge backlogs at the shipping ports, and that is having an adverse effect on agriculture. Most of us can understand that these were unprecedented times, but not all our problems have been unpreventable. What about the large number of shipping containers that are heading back across the ocean empty, while our exports sit in port?
A new legislative effort will hold shipping companies responsible for this wasteful activity.
Speaking at a Farmers for Free Trade webinar, South Dakota Republican Congressman Dusty Johnson talked about the business that agriculture has lost due to the mishandling of shipping.
He cited a cheese factory in his own state that couldn?t get containers for two million pounds of lactose, while 60% of containers returning to Asia were empty. This is why the Ocean Shipping Reform Act was introduced and passed out of the House on bipartisan support.
Johnson explains how it will work.
The Senate has currently marked up its own version of the legislation.
