News

Class 1 railroads not ready for mandates

The Ag Retailers Association says farmers should place fertilizer orders this fall sooner rather than later because of possible transportation backups.

President and CEO Daren Coppock tells Brownfield a Congressional mandate requiring railroads to implement Positive Train Control (PTC) is meant to improve transportation safety, but the railroads need more time.

“The deadline was aggressive and it turns out that NONE of the Class 1 railroads are going to be able to meet the deadline by the end of the year.”

PTC uses GPS technology to operate trains remotely and is required by the mandate for any tracks carrying ‘toxic by inhalation’ materials. Coppock says railroads aren’t ready to meet the December 31st deadline and an extension is needed.  “What the Class 1 railroads have done is notify their customers, ‘If we cannot get an extension on Positive Train Control compliance, we will not ship ‘toxic inhalation products’ like ammonia starting sometime in November or December.’”

He says rail service stopping movement of fertilizes even further restricts farmers needs for anhydrous ammonia.  He says even if farmers switch to another nitrogen option, ammonia still needs to be transported as a feedstock to alternative fertilizers.

The Ag Retailers Association is one of 28 agricultural organizations requesting an extension of the PTC deadline.

AUDIO: Interview with Daren Coppock