Rail Service Continues To Lag As Harvest Nears

Slow rail service for northern plains producers is not improving.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe officials say they’re catching up on the back log of rail cars. However South Dakota Ag Secretary Lucas Lentsch says many elevators in the state are already filled to capacity with harvest just starting.
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Lentsch met informally with Surface Transportation Board members on Friday to discuss the rail problem. He’s also still advising producers to make contingency plans if the rail dilemma persists. That won’t work however for those in the Ethanol industry who depend on railroads for shipping their product. Lentsch says that needs to be addressed now.
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Lentsch says if the rail problem isn’t solved and the grain doesn’t move, South Dakota becomes the nation’s largest warehouse.