(NAFB.com) – The Fertilizer Institute President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch thanked the Surface Transportation Board for holding this week’s hearing on “Urgent Issues in Freight Rail Service.” Rosenbusch says, “We appreciate the opportunity to provide testimony on how rail service issues are negatively impacting the cost and timely delivery of fertilizer inputs to farmers.”

TFI cited issues such as the implementation of precision scheduled railroading, a lack of competition, and a lack of structural and market-based incentives to be customer-oriented, leading to reduced rail service, high shipping rates, and poor cycle times.

The STB also heard testimony from Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Dr. Jewel Bronaugh, both of whom mentioned the importance and challenges facing fertilizer shippers, as well as other agriculture groups such as the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Grain and Feed Association. Rosenbusch adds, “these issues are felt broadly, are having negative impacts, and must be addressed through modern reforms.”