Bruce Blanton

Director

Transportation Services Division

Transportation & Marketing Program

Agricultural Marketing Program

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Inland Waterways Users Board

Meeting #81

December 13, 2016
• Waterways issues are important to American agriculture 

• AMS has represented USDA at IWUB since 1991

• Before 1991, USDA’s Office of Transportation (OT) 

attended IWUB 

• In 1991, USDA dissolved OT, scaled down its functions, 

and delegated the remaining responsibilities to AMS 
Office of the 

Secretary (OSEC)

Under Secretary 

for Marketing & 

Regulatory 

Programs (MRP)

AMS

Transportation & 

Marketing 

Programs (TM)

Transportation 

Services Division 

(TSD)

APHIS GIPSA
AMS Mission

Facilitate the Orderly Marketing of Agricultural Products

• Grades & Standards

• Market News

• Market Research & Promotion Programs

• National Organic Program

• Transportation & Marketing 

• Transportation, Grants, Marketing
AMS Transportation Mission

Provide Insight on Ag Transportation for Stakeholders & 

USDA Policymakers through:

• Market Reports

• Economic Analysis

• Regulatory Representation

• Transportation Disruption Reports (internal)

• Outreach to Stakeholders
Statutory Authority for Regulatory 

Representation

• Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 

• Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946

• International Carriage of Perishable 

Foodstuffs Act of 1982.

Ø Delegated by Secretary to MRP

Ø MRP Relies on AMS to Cover 

Transportation Issues
Regulatory Representation

• IWUB (barge)

• STB Filings (rail)

• FMC (ocean)

• DOT’s FMCSA (truck)

• Perishable Foodstuffs Act (cold chain)
Transportation Services Division

Transportation Analysis and Market 

Reports:

• U.S. Grain

• Other Commodities

• Brazil & Mexico Grain Analysis 

• Modal Share Analysis

• Commodity Profiles

• Rail Studies

• Study of Rural Transportation Issues

• STB Filings

• Co-op Research Agreements

• Data

http://www.ams.usda.gov/agtransportation
2015 Barge Tonnage by Commodity 

Group

Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Petroleum and 

related products, 29%

Crude, 18% Coal, 22%

Chemicals, 9%

Manufactured Goods, 

5%

Equipment, 1%

Food & Farm, 16%
Corn, Soybean and Wheat 

Production

Source: National Agricultural Statistics Service

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016

Billion Bushels

CORN SOYBEANS WHEAT
U.S. Agricultural Trade

Source: U.S. Census International Trade Data

$0

$20

$40

$60

$80

$100

$120

$140

$160

Billions

Trade Balance Exports Imports
Percent by Mode of Export Grains

ALL GRAINS

CORN SOYBEANS WHEAT 

RAIL 45% 36% 38% 66%

BARGE 45% 54% 49% 29%

TRUCK 10% 10% 13% 6%

Average - 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, 

Source: USDA

Farm Bill Study

• Required by 2014 Farm Bill (unfunded mandate)

• Major Modes for Agriculture (Rail, Barge, Truck, 

Ocean)

• Energy (Coal & Biofuels)

• Importance to Ag & Rural Economy

• Rail Performance & Issues

• Barge Performance & Issues

• Infrastructure Planning & Finance
Stakeholder Outreach

Agricultural Transportation Summit 

• Every 2-3 years (2013, 2015, 2017 or 2018)

• Jointly hosted by National Grain and Feed Association 

(NGFA), Soy Transportation Coalition (STC) and 

USDA’s AMS

Ag Shippers Workshops

• Annual workshops in 6-7 locations for agricultural 

exporters

• Sponsored by USDA’s AMS in cooperation with Ag 

Transportation Coalition (AgTC)
Strategic Vision

• USDA is a voice for American Agriculture in many 

venues and issues, including waterway issues

• USDA does not have jurisdiction or funding for 

waterway infrastructure

• Being a Cabinet Level Department of Gov’t, USDA 

must adhere to the policies of the White House and 

OMB on waterway infrastructure issues

• USDA is often put in a difficult position between the 

desires of its stakeholders with regard to waterway 

issues and funding and the policies of the 

Administration 
Contact Information:

Bruce Blanton

Director, Transportation Services Division

Agricultural Marketing Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture 

Phone: (202) 690-0435

Email: bruce.blanton@ams.usda.gov

Website: www.ams.usda.gov/agtransportation