Cantwell Presses Rail Industry & Groundwater Fight plus Buying Beef

Cantwell Presses Rail Industry & Groundwater Fight plus Buying Beef. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) questioned a top rail industry executive whether railroads are investing enough in infrastructure as increasing delays in freight rail traffic have impacted shipments of goods nationwide, and recently forced a Washington state agriculture shipper to suspend service and cut jobs.

CANTWELL: Clearly this isn't just about a bumper crop. We've seen a huge increase in crude production on these rails as well. But you Mr. Hamberger are talking about the increase in investment. I think you said something like $26-billion in 2014 and $25-billion in the previous years and yet this is what's happening. We're losing jobs.

The American Farm Bureau Federation charges the Forest Services' latest attempt to take water rights from farmers and ranchers violate fundamental constitutional protections. Farm Bureau officials Wednesday said the proposed Forest Service Groundwater Directive would circumvent state water rights and give the agency unprecedented control over water use in the West. Colorado Farm Bureau President Don Shawcroft told the House Committee on Agriculture the new directive would empower the Forest Service to take part ownership of private citizens' water rights as a regular part of the rights renewal process.

If you are continuing to buy beef, even at record high prices, you are not alone. Gary Crawford has more.

(USDA Report)

Thanks Gary. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.