Rural Issue

Rural issues at House Ag hearing

Infrastructure, broadband, water, were among the issues outlined by six witnesses from the Rebuild Rural coalition (made up of 200 groups) who testified before the House Ag Committee this week saying big investments are needed in rural America to turn it around.

Richard Calhoun with the National Grain and Feed Association says inland waterway improvements are desperately needed because they help move more than 90 percent of grain and oilseed exports to ports on the coasts. He told lawmakers, “We used to be able to ship soybeans to China for nearly $80 a metric ton cheaper than Brazil. Today, they’ve narrowed the transportation gap by about 75% to just $20 a metric ton.”

AUDIO:  Partial hearing