(NAFB) – Grain elevators and others who move smaller shipping volumes likely won’t get a quicker process to settle rate differences with railroads after a federal appeals court ruling. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals says the Surface Transportation Board exceeded its authority by trying to streamline rate dispute settlements between railroads and shippers. The nation’s largest railroads sued over the new rate rules, and the appeals court found in their favor. Great American Crop Dot Com says the ruling will limit the ability of shippers to challenge railroad freight rates in situations involving smaller shipping volumes. Major ag groups and other industries that rely on railroads to remove commodities lost their arguments defending the STB Rule. Union Pacific Railroad filed the lawsuit, along with the American Association of Railroads, which lobbies for major railroad companies. Federal statutes require railroads to establish reasonable rates when they do not have effective competition.