Alan Barrett is the Director of Research and Consulting for HIgby Barrett LLC. He is an accomplished commodity economist with more than 25 years of experience in futures and cash markets with a focus on cotton, commodity projects, non-traditional agricultural products, transportation and supply chain studies. Alan spent six years as a commodity futures broker. His expertise encompasses feasibility studies of oilseed crushing plants (soybean canola, and cottonseed), grain elevators, export elevators, shuttle elevators, grain container operations, flourmills and other processing facilities. Alan also has conducted transportation supply chain studies for grains, oilseeds, fertilizer, coal, natural gas, crude oil, and petroleum products. Alan has considerable experience in non-traditional agricultural products such as coal, coke, natural gas, chemicals, hydraulic fracturing fluid, hydraulic fracturing proppants, glycerin, fertilizer, micronutrients, salt, limestone, cement, iron ore, pig iron, and steel, especially feed ingredients. Mr. Barrett has a BS and MS in Agricultural Economics from the University of Tennessee.
Panama Canal Authority Lowering Draft to 43 Feet
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announced that effective May 28, the maximum authorized draft for vessels transiting the canal’s Neopanamax locks will be 43 feet…
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Virginia Port Authority Deepening Waterways
In an ongoing effort to continually improve the U.S. transportation system, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Virginia Port Authority are proceeding with design…
U.S. Flooding: Comparing 1993 to 2019
The 2019 flood conditions have been much worse than 1993, but because the levees have held up significantly better, the 2019 flood is not receiving…
U.S. Soybeans: Late Planting versus Prevented Planting
Will the U.S. farmer have time to switch corn acres to soybean acres? While the soybean planting season is off to an extremely slow, Doane…
Soybeans Trapped in Upper Mississippi River Region
As of June 1, no crop volume has transversed Lock 15 at the Quad Cities. Even in 1993, the average water level was below flood…
Brazil Amps Up Logistics Plans
One could argue that China, India, and developing Asia (Asian Growth Center) would not have improved as much as they have without the natural resources…
Asian Growth Center Drives World Agricultural Decisions
The Asian Growth Center (China south to Philippines east to India) is experiencing great growth in food consumption but has limited acreage available for cultivation.…
World Iron Ore Supply Issues Helping U.S. Farmers
The U.S. is a soybean surplus country that is dependent on exports. Due to Asia being an extremely long distance from the U.S., ocean freight…
Western Canada Port Strike a Possibility
Will a port strike in Western Canada have a positive or negative impact on the U.S. market? Likely, a strike will not have much of…
The Importance of Mississippi River to U.S. Farmers
The inland Mississippi River system plays a major role in transporting commodities; especially soybeans and corn. Approximately 60 percent of all grain inspected is exported…