NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — Rail access disputes, trucking cost pressures, and new fertilizer train programs are reshaping agricultural transportation as producers and agribusinesses prepare for the 2026 season.
Canadian National Railway (CN) has asked the Surface Transportation Board to confirm its right to serve an ADM grain elevator near Springfield, Illinois. CN claims Union Pacific has blocked access by refusing to qualify CN crews, limiting competition at a facility also served by Norfolk Southern. CN argues the timing is significant because UP is seeking regulatory approval to acquire Norfolk Southern, raising broader concerns about market access and rail competition for grain shippers.
Meanwhile, the American Transportation Research Institute’s annual industry survey shows trucking companies remain focused on economic conditions, lawsuit abuse reform, and insurance costs. Drivers continue to cite compensation, truck parking, and language requirements as their top concerns, highlighting ongoing labor and cost challenges across rural freight networks.
On the fertilizer front, BNSF Railway has launched a new seasonal unit train program running January through June. The program allows shippers to reserve large fertilizer trains without auctions or prepayment, though new tariff increases of $5 per ton for urea and phosphates take effect January 1.
Bioethanol continues to gain ground as the bridge fuel connecting agriculture, aviation, and maritime industries in the global shift toward lower-carbon energy.
October 23, 2025 10:14 AM
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Expanding bioethanol use strengthens rural economies, supports farm markets, and positions U.S. agriculture at the center of global low-carbon trade.
October 23, 2025 10:10 AM
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“Farmers for Free Trade” warns that disaster is brewing as President Trump’s trade policy is causing farm input costs to rise even more.
October 22, 2025 12:07 PM
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Corn and wheat inspections outpaced last year, but soybean movement remains seasonally active yet behind, keeping basis and freight dynamics in focus by corridor.
October 21, 2025 04:00 PM
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In the meantime, Senate Majority Leader John Thune is asking that farmers be allowed to use marketing assistance loans to help stay afloat.
October 21, 2025 11:57 AM
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Beef industry groups seem to agree — market-based pricing, not federal intervention, best supports rancher livelihoods and long-term beef supply stability.
October 21, 2025 11:22 AM
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Bioethanol is becoming a global standard. For growers, that boom comes as drops in Mississippi River levels and in soybean demand occur in tandem, leaving barge space for corn and wheat.
October 20, 2025 01:32 PM
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The government shutdown has touched nearly every sector of the ag industry since it began, and now impacts are spilling over into dairy.
October 20, 2025 12:46 PM
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Southern farms are deepening online engagement for cost savings and market access, while higher-cost precision technologies face renewed scrutiny amid tight budgets.
October 20, 2025 11:22 AM
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