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Nebraska Farm Bureau President says rail strike could devastate the US soybean harvest

The head of a state Farm Bureau organization says a potential railroad industry strike could have devastating impacts on US soybean growers.

Class 1 Railroads and its union employees have until Friday to reach an agreement and Nebraska Farm Bureau President and farmer Mark McHargue says disruption to service might prevent some farmers from starting harvest.  “If there’s a strike and the trains quit moving, that will absolutely affect our ability to get in the fields.”

He tells Brownfield grain elevators don’t have the capacity to store the crop. “If they don’t have room, they’re not going to put soybeans on the ground.  It just would be hugely problematic.  I hope they get things worked out.  I’ve been in conversations with the railroad, and I think there’s progress.”

McHargue is testifying before a joint hearing on Thursday between the House Ag Committee and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

Brownfield interviewed McHargue at 2022 Husker Harvest Days in Grand Island, NE.

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