Over 200 groups sent a letter to President Trump asking that rural needs be part of any plan to improve the nation’s infrastructure. Soy Transportation Coalition Executive Director Mike Steenhoek says as policy makers put together infrastructure legislation and funding, agriculture needs to be at the forefront.

Waterways Council Senior Vice President Deb Calhoun says America’s farmers and ranchers need a reliable infrastructure system to help them compete in the global marketplace and deliver their products to export customers.

In their letter, the groups noted that the federal government can’t meet all the costs of upgrading infrastructure, so they need to partner with local governments and find private financing sources. Steenhoek says all these entities need to work together for the best outcome.

The American Soybean Association, Farm Bureau and Farm Credit Council were all represented in the letter to the President. They also noted that to ensure the U.S. remains a leader in feeding the world, the deteriorating infrastructure must be fixed.