This week, Oregon Wheat Growers League President, Clint Carlson and CEO, Amanda Hoey, joined other national farm industry leaders on a tour hosted by Idaho Farm Bureau Federation and Idaho Grain Producers Association to learn about the essential role the lower four Snake River dams and the entire Columbia-Snake River system.
Each year, about 14 million metric tons of wheat destined for export move through the Columbia-Snake system. Over 60% of the cargo that moves on the Columbia Snake River System is high-quality U.S. wheat grown in the Pacific Northwest and exported overseas. Nearly 10% of all U.S. wheat exports travel by barge on the Snake River each year while wheat ranks as the number one export at the Port of Portland.
The tour addressed the extreme consequences of breaching the four lower Snake River dams, which would make the Snake River system unnavigable for barges. Barges are the most environmentally safe option for moving commodities to market, offering a safe, affordable, and low-emission mode of transportation.
“The river system reduces traffic congestion and pollution, but along with an impressive level of investment to fish passage which has provided overall dam survival of 98%. In 2019, it would have taken 150,784 semi-trucks or 39,204 rail cars to move the cargo that was barged on the Snake River alone. There is a critical importance for our navigation on these rivers and dams, getting our wheat to market. This is the most environmentally friendly mode of transportation available,” stated Clint Carlson.
OWGL and the other state associations in our region, in conjunction with NAWG, have been active in engaging with members about the key role these dams play in not only the local economies, but how they keep our growers connected globally. Exports are critical to U.S. wheat growers, and maintaining these locks and dams plays a crucial role in ensuring U.S. wheat competitiveness, providing the safest and most reliable mode of transportation, and are essential to the long-term viability of our industry throughout the region.