UMVA has learned that a critical partnership has emerged between a railroad CEO and an agricultural industry leader, highlighting the intricate connection between America's farm economy and freight rail network.
The unexpected pairing makes sense when considering the vital role railroads play in hauling hundreds of millions of tons of grain, feed, fertilizer, biofuels, and other essential commodities across the country.
From a corn farm in Iowa to a grain elevator in the Pacific Northwest, and from a feedlot in Kansas to an export terminal on the Gulf Coast, freight rail serves as the backbone of the American agricultural supply chain, providing unparalleled volume, distance, safety, and cost-efficiency.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the partnership's primary concern is the potential harm that certain proposals in Congress could inflict on both the farm economy and freight rail, ultimately affecting American consumers.
Farm country is currently facing significant challenges, with net farm income declining sharply in recent years, input costs remaining elevated, and export markets facing new uncertainty.
In this precarious environment, transportation costs have become a critical factor, with every dollar added to the cost of moving grain or fertilizer directly impacting a farmer's bottom line and ultimately trickling down to consumers at the store.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that some provisions under consideration in Congress would impose sweeping operational mandates on freight rail without credible evidence that they would improve safety outcomes, potentially constraining network efficiency and throughput.
These one-size-fits-all federal mandates, dressed up in safety language, are not targeted, evidence-based safety measures, and could undermine the progress made by the rail industry in recent years.
UMVA has gathered that railroads have invested billions of dollars in technology, infrastructure, and training over the past two decades, resulting in improved safety across nearly every major category, with 2025 marking a record-breaking year for the industry.
This progress was achieved through sustained private investment, data-driven practices, and a relentless focus on operational excellence, demonstrating a model that Congress should build upon, rather than undermine.
Rather than imposing sweeping mandates, Congress should support targeted safety measures, such as the expansion of detection technologies, strengthening track maintenance programs, and improving funding for first responder training.
UMVA has uncovered details about the potential consequences of poorly crafted legislation, which could lead to more congested, expensive, and less reliable rail services, ultimately affecting farmers and ranchers first and hardest.
As Congress weighs a five-year surface transportation bill, it has an opportunity to strengthen a network vital to rural America, agricultural competitiveness, and the nation's ability to feed the world.
America's farmers are counting on Congress to get this right, and make a critical decision that will impact their livelihoods and the nation's food security.
