The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) has praised President Donald Trump's administration for taking action to preserve the Lower Snake River dams in Eastern Washington. The decision, announced in a presidential memorandum on June 12, 2025, reverses agreements made during the Biden administration that could have led to the breaching of four dams crucial to the region's transportation and energy infrastructure.
NGFA President and CEO Mike Seyfert commended the move, stating, "These dams are critical to transporting U.S. grain and oilseeds to global markets. One barge tow moves the equivalent of 140 rail cars or 538 trucks – infrastructure that cannot be easily replaced."
The four dams – Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose, and Lower Granite – play a vital role in the competitiveness of American agriculture. They facilitate navigation for more than 10 percent of U.S. wheat exports, provide affordable renewable electricity, and support irrigation for thousands of acres of farmland.
Seyfert emphasized the importance of the dams to the agricultural sector, saying, "Hydropower, irrigation access, and river transport are part of what makes American agriculture globally competitive. Farmers, grain handlers, and exporters across the region, and the nation, depend on this infrastructure every day."
The NGFA believes this action will ensure continued support for balanced, science-based salmon recovery efforts without compromising the nation's food and energy security or export competitiveness.
