NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD NEWS) — Farm shippers will soon get more rail-service visibility as the Surface Transportation Board adds two weekly reporting metrics for Class I railroads. STB says railroads must begin reporting original estimated time of arrival and industry spot-and-pull data on July 8.
The original estimated time of arrival will be used to measure whether manifest shipments arrive within 24 hours of the railroad’s original estimate. Industry spot and pull will track local railcar placements and pickups, giving shippers more insight into service reliability.
STB also launched a beta Open Data Portal with machine-readable data and visual tools for service measures such as train speeds and terminal dwell times. The agency says it plans to expand the portal over time.
The issue is practical for agriculture. An Oregon short line tied to Venell Farms filed a complaint after a Marys River bridge collapse cut off rail service, forcing grain, feed, grass seed, and fertilizer traffic onto trucks.
For farmers, better data may not solve every local rail problem, but it can make service failures easier to document.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Stronger rail reporting could help grain and input shippers track delays, missed placements, and local service breakdowns.
Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist
The Trump Administration’s new rule limiting CDL renewals for immigrant truckers is seeing mixed reactions in agriculture. While some support the change, it is raising concerns about higher freight costs and impacts on U.S. grain export competitiveness.
March 19, 2026 02:35 PM
·
Farm CPA Paul Neiffer explains the updates to crop insurance subsidies, additional benefits for new farmers, and eligibility considerations for those entering the program.
March 19, 2026 02:12 PM
·
As a part of the International Year of the Woman Farmer, women across the state are being recognized for shaping the future of agricutlure.
March 19, 2026 02:01 PM
·
As the strike at a JBS facility in Colorado continues, the National Right to Work Foundation is encouraging some employees to consider returning to work. The group says not all workers on strike may want to participate and urges those who choose to cross the picket line to resign from their union memberships.
March 19, 2026 01:49 PM
·
