March 15-16 conference includes FMC, U.S. DOT representatives

Commissioner Max Vekich of the Federal Maritime Commission and Elaine Trevino, senior supply chain adviser for the U.S. Department of Transportation, are among the notable speakers at the 2023 Transportation Go! conference, which takes place March 15-16 at the Hilton Omaha in Omaha.

Organized by the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA), Transportation Go! is the premier meeting that tackles issues pertaining to soybean, grain and other agricultural transportation from the Midwest.

Other key presenters include Luisa Fernandez-Willey, assistant vice president, policy & economics, for the Association of American Railroads; Peter Hirthe, international trade specialist for the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation; and John Wolfe, CEO of The Northwest Seaport Alliance. Hilary Maricle, deputy director for the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, will give remarks at the reception on Wednesday. See the full speaker list and conference agenda here.

With an agenda that includes high-profile speakers and unique networking opportunities, Transportation Go! promotes collaboration and in-depth discussions about the global supply chain and how it affects the vital movement of agricultural products from the United States.

“Transportation Go! is an interactive conference that addresses the myriad challenges and opportunities ag shippers face,” said Eric Wenberg, SSGA executive director. “This meeting puts smart, experienced people from different avenues of the supply chain into the same room to take on challenges together, and we encourage and expect real dialogue to take place during every segment of the agenda.”

In addition, the conclusion of Transportation Go! will lead directly into an Ag Shipper Workshop by the Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC).

“We appreciate that AgTC recognizes our agenda and wants to build on that with its workshop,” Wenberg said. “These are two events that will actually make a difference in the industry.”

Additionally, students from Bellevue University’s Supply Chain Management and Logistics program will be attending Transportation Go!, thanks to the sponsorship of Hang Tung Resources. Fittingly, Brenda Snyder of HRG Search, will speak about developing talent in ag logistics during the conference.

Transportation Go’s main event sponsor is the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and its cooperative support from the state’s various commodity boards (Nebraska Soybean Board, Nebraska Corn Board, Nebraska Ethanol Board, Nebraska Wheat Board). Other sponsors include: the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board, South Dakota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, North Dakota Soybean Council, North Dakota Corn Council, Illinois Soybean Association, Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, Norseman Protective Solutions, Ohio Soybean Council, Scoular, Buffers USA and Ray-Mont Logistics.

During the AgTC workshop (register separately at this link), attendees will discuss pressing challenges for exporters and importers in an informal and off-the-record way. Invited guests will include an ocean carrier and trucking executive.

“The Agriculture Transportation Coalition looks forward to partnering with the SSGA to provide a unique transportation forum,” AgTC Executive Director Peter Friedmann said. “We will bring our AgTC-USDA Ag Shipper Workshop format, offering all Midwest agriculture the chance to dialogue face-to-face with top ocean carrier, trucking, rail and port gateway authorities who will come to Omaha. These transportation providers and ag exporters (and importers) can speak openly, benefiting by our no-press, off-the-record rules. Ag transport is adopting quickly to changing markets and needs — exporters of soybeans, grains, protein, dairy, corn and any other ag, will get insight into what the short-term and long-term future holds, new and needed transport options, and decisions by Congress and Federal Maritime Commission that impact your transport options now.”