AMERICAN FARM BUREAU LOBBIES CONGRESS TO UPGRADE MIDWEST WATERWAYS

AMERICAN FARM BUREAU LOBBIES CONGRESS TO UPGRADE MIDWEST WATERWAYS    The American Farm Bureau Federation has asked Congress to support upgrades for the Mississippi and Illinois waterways to improve transportation for both agricultural products and farm supplies.
   “Any farmer who lives in the vicinity of a major navigable river benefits from the higher prices paid for their commodities,” said Charles Kruse, Missouri Farm Bureau president. “Waterborne transportation to processing facilities or deep water ports results in higher prices paid to farmers, lowers government outlays by reducing loan deficiency payments and makes our products more competitive in world markets.”
   The Farm Bureau specifically supports:
   * Expanding the inland waterway system.
   * Educating the public about the economic benefits of waterways.
   * Continuing efforts to upgrade locks and dams, as well as cleaning out river channels to accommodate new, larger barges.
   * Lengthening the locks on the Mississippi River below Keokuk and on the Illinois River below Peoria to 1,200 feet each.
   Kruse said an efficient inland waterway system is important to keep U.S. agricultural commodities competitive on the world market.
   “Infrastructure improvements in South America, for example, will not be the death knell of American agriculture but should serve as a wake-up call to U.S. policy makers,” he said.