North Dakota wheat transportation knowledge for market enhancement

North Dakota wheat producers are located long distances from major consumer and export markets. Understanding the competitive position of their products is important to focusing efforts for market development and transportation investments. Research here provides some fundamental knowledge about market trends that is based on existing data sources. The data reveal shifts in some of the origin-destination corridors, a narrowing in rail rate spreads, and lower expenditures per bushel mile in rail wheat markets. In addition, a spike in deliveries to the Duluth market is identified for the most recent marketing year as well as an increasing trend in durum imports for the U.S. consumer market. Ongoing attention to logistics in the wheat market establishes a sustained knowledge base and provides systematic attention to this important market aspect.