Heitkamp, Hoeven Invite Agriculture Producers, Community Members to Attend Conference on Transporting Agriculture

Press Release

U.S. Senators Heidi Heitkamp and John Hoeven today invited farmers, elevators, and agricultural processors to attend a comprehensive conference they are hosting with North Dakota State University's (NDSU) Center for Agricultural Policy and Trade Studies to examine ways to improve the transportation system for agricultural products in the Northern Plains.

The conference is particularly timely as it aims to discuss the agriculture transportation challenges that many farmers and producers have experienced over the past year, including through harvest, which have prevented them from getting many of their crops to market. The conference, entitled "Post-harvest Handling and Transportation for Agricultural Products: Issues and Alternatives," will take a closer look at several of these issues and challenges North Dakota and other Northern Plain states have faced, including transportation's effects on farm income. Additionally, panelists will include key federal, state, and local leaders, including top officials from the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), as well from Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and Canadian Pacific railways, among others.

"To make sure our farmers and producers can get their products to market, and to help prevent the types of backlogs they have faced through the past year, and which they continue to face, we need to work together to address them," said Heitkamp and Hoeven. "This conference will bring together transportation, agricultural, and energy leaders in the region and provide an opportunity to discuss our transportation challenges together -- enabling all sides to find workable and sustainable paths forward. We hope North Dakotans from a variety of industries attend this conference to help provide their perspective and input about the challenges and how to address them."

What: Post-harvest Handling and Transportation for Agricultural Products: Issues and Alternatives Conference

Who: Hosted by U.S. Senators Heitkamp and Hoeven, and Dr. Won W. Koo, Director, Center for Agricultural Policy and Trade Studies, NDSU

When: December 8, 2014: 8:00 am -- 5:45 pm CT

December 9, 2014: 8:30 am -- 12:30 pm CT

Where: Ramada Plaza and Suites, Fargo

Conference panelists and speakers include:

-Dean Bresciani, President, North Dakota State University

-Daniel Elliott, Chairman, STB

-Edward Avalos, Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, USDA

-Representatives from BNSF, Canadian Pacific, and Red River Valley & Western Railroads

-Bruce Blanton, Director, Transportation Services Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA

Source