Rail and grain logistics remain a key focus for agricultural markets heading into 2026, as shifting export patterns force the industry to adapt to new realities, according to BNSF market manager Rachel Lemieux.
Lemieux, who manages a commodity portfolio that includes soybeans, oats, milo, and a portion of corn traffic for BNSF Railway, spoke with the American Ag Network during the Northern Corn and Soybean Expo in Fargo, where she spent time meeting with producers, country elevators, and other industry stakeholders.
Lemieux said her expo visit centered on conversations with customers and producers to better understand conditions at the local level and how those dynamics feed into the broader grain export system.
Those discussions, she said, are particularly important as markets transition from 2025 into 2026, a period she described as one that will require flexibility across the supply chain. Lemieux noted that market participants should be prepared for a set of dynamics unlike those seen in the past, emphasizing the need for multiple logistical options and the ability to respond quickly as conditions change.
Looking ahead to 2026, Lemieux pointed to ongoing challenges tied to soybean exports, particularly the continued absence of Chinese purchasing activity. With reduced demand from China, she said the industry will need to work harder to place soybeans into alternative markets.
That includes increased focus on destinations such as Mexico, eastern U.S. processors, the Central Gulf, and other export channels in an effort to offset lost volume that had traditionally moved through the Pacific Northwest.
As producers and grain handlers plan for the year ahead, Lemieux said those conversations will remain critical in shaping how grain flows are managed and how export capacity is utilized in a changing global market environment.
Listen to Corryn La Rue’s interview with Rachel Lemieux here.
