How will rail delays impact Minn. farmers this season?

Moving a rail car into position to load.
Workers prepare to move a rail car into position so it can be loaded with corn at the Kragnes Farmers Elevator near Dilworth, Minnesota on August 7th, 2014. The elevator is nearly full of grain and is trying to empty storage bins before the fall harvest.
Dan Gunderson/MPR News

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Minnesota farmers are being squeezed by the rush of crude oil moving by rail from the North Dakota oil fields through Minnesota.

The rail traffic is delaying shipping for farmers and led to a meeting with the federal Surface Transportation Board this month:

During the board's public hearing in Fargo, representatives of farm groups and government officials told members of the board that although the rail service is improving, late trains still cause significant problems getting grain to market.

Rail delays have already cost farmers in Minnesota more than $100 million because they could not get grain to market in a timely manner, Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson said.

In North Dakota, farming losses could reach $500 million this year, state Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring told the board.

Frederickson joins The Daily Circuit to discuss the options for farmers during harvest season.

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