In Washington, there’s a bit of good news for the farming community. Those critical rail crossings at Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas, are open again after a four-day hiatus. The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had shut them down, needing extra hands on deck for migrant custody duties.
This closure, kicking off on December 18, started to throw a spanner in the works for the US supply chain, with ripples felt across the economy. A bunch of US agriculture groups, including the North American Millers’ Association and the National Grain and Feed Association, were pretty vocal about the impact.
Harold Wolle, who’s at the helm of the National Corn Growers Association, couldn’t hide his relief. “We’re really thankful that CBP listened to us and got those crossings back up and running,” he said. “But let’s not forget the lesson here. Rail is crucial for shipping our goods to Mexico, and shutting these paths down. Well, it’s not just bad news for farmers; it hits the whole economy.”
In a letter to Alejandro Mayorkas, the Homeland Security bigwig, dated December 20, these ag groups laid it all out. A whopping two-thirds of our ag exports to Mexico roll on those rails. We’re talking about $28.5 billion in 2022 alone. Mexico’s our number two buyer, so you can imagine the kind of chaos this closure caused. The groups reckon almost a million bushels of grain exports were potentially lost each day. And it’s not just about the grain – it’s a whole domino effect.
But it’s not just a numbers game. There’s a human angle here too. These exports, they’re not just commodities; they’re food, they’re livelihoods. When shipments stop, it’s not just an inconvenience. It risks hiking up food prices and worsening food insecurity in Mexico. The groups didn’t hold back – they’re baffled that CBP would let this happen, especially considering the tight bond we share with Mexico.
CBP’s side of the story? They’re pointing to a massive surge in immigrants, many tricked and exploited by criminal gangs. But for now, at least, those rail crossings are back in business, and a bit of normalcy is restored for our farmers and the economy.
