Maryland

Will The Collapse Of The Baltimore Key Bridge Impact Agriculture?

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 18:21:53 GMT

Early Tuesday morning, a cargo ship struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing it to collapse. The Port of Baltimore later announced all vessel traffic in and out of the port is suspended indefinitely.

pic.twitter.com/VUDcNw0z5T
— Port of Baltimore (@portofbalt) March 26, 2024

Mike Steenhoek, executive director at the Soy Transportation Coalition, joined the AgriTalk podcast shortly after to share what this devastating event could mean for shipping and the agriculture industry.

“[The Port of Baltimore] doesn’t accommodate a lot in terms of agricultural exports,” he says. “Sugar would be No. 1, then soybeans No. 2, grain products including corn and wheat are No. 3 and then coffee and grocery items.”

According to Steenhoek, the Port of Baltimore exports around 200,000 metric tons of soybeans. In comparison, the Mississippi Gulf near New Orleans is the No. 1 export region for soybeans and exports 35 million metric tons.

He shares the port is a larger importer and exporter of automobiles and light trucks, but the supply chain can have a ripple effect.

“It’s all a part of this big issue that when it comes to supply chains: don’t put all of your eggs in one basket,” Steenhoek says. “The more you can spread your eggs across multiple baskets, the better you are, and the more resilient you are. So, we take real concern when you’ve got a major disruption at one of our ports.”

During a press conference, Maryland transportation secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld said it’s too early to tell how long the port will be closed.

Smithfield Foods Plans New Distribution Center in MD

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 03:20:11 GMT

Smithfield Foods has agreed to locate a new distribution center in Cecil County, Md., creating 240 new jobs, according to Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan.

The 420,000-sq.-ft. facility will feature state-of-the-art technology and create efficiency to the world’s largest pork processor and hog producer. The site will be in the Principio Business Park, allowing the company to support its daily operations and improve service to its customers in the Northeast.

“This new distribution center is an essential part of our efforts to streamline our national logistics network to optimize our operations, while advancing our ambitious sustainability goals,” said Kenneth M. Sullivan, president and chief executive officer for Smithfield Foods, in the governor’s release . “We are proud to become part of the business community in Maryland, a location that provides strategic advantages for our business and improves our ability to provide high-quality product to our customers and consumers.”

Based in Virginia for more than 80 years, Smithfield Foods has more than 54,000 employees in North America and Europe.

“It is a tremendous win for the state and for Cecil County that a global company like Smithfield Foods, which has worldwide brand recognition, has chosen to continue its growth in Maryland,” said Governor Larry Hogan . “This new facility and the 240 new jobs it brings underscores our administration’s promise to make Maryland more business-friendly and create job opportunities for our citizens.”

Smithfield Foods Plans New Distribution Center in MD

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 05:06:52 GMT

Maryland

Will The Collapse Of The Baltimore Key Bridge Impact Agriculture?

Smithfield Foods Plans New Distribution Center in MD

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Smithfield Foods Plans New Distribution Center in MD

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