(The Associated Press distributed the following article on December 3.)
WASHINGTON – The federal government should investigate railroad shipping delays at grain elevators that hurt prices for farmers and consumers, Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., says.
Some elevators have to turn away farmers looking to sell grain because of shipping delays that can last several weeks, Johnson said Wednesday.
“The current situation is unacceptable to grain shippers and agricultural producers,” Johnson said in a letter to Ann Veneman, the Agriculture Secretary, and to Richard Nober, chairman of the federal Surface Transportation Board.
“Unless steps are taken to break the logjam, United States farmers will face increased transportation costs and reduced marketing opportunities which can be crippling to a farm economy trying to recover from lingering drought conditions,” he said.