(NAFB.com) – The Fertilizer Institute testified before the Surface Transportation Board and emphasized the ongoing need for the freight rail industry to shift its focus toward customer service and growth. The fertilizer industry has long relied on rail service for the efficient and safe transport of its products but has struggled with declining service quality, increasing rates, and a lack of attention to customer needs. “The fertilizer industry is heavily reliant on rail and cannot afford to see continued stagnation in freight rail service,” says TFI vice president of government affairs Ryan Bowley. He also pointed to data showing that while rail employment has dropped and carloads have declined, rail rates have surged. Between 2005 and 2017, rates for transporting critical farm inputs like anhydrous ammonia increased by more than 200 percent. These price hikes and inconsistent service make it difficult for fertilizer companies to meet the delivery demands of U.S. farmers.