A bill that would reform the way the Surface Transportation Board handles rail crisis situations like farmers experienced in 2014 is moving forward. South Dakota Senator John Thune chairs the Commerce Committee that wrote the legislation. He says even though the rail issues have eased the measure is necessary to avoid future rail car shortages and capacity issues in agriculture.

Thune says the bill that came of the committee to reform the STB is a balanced bill with good bi-partisan support. He expects it will move to the full Senate soon.

In 2014 the perfect storm created logistical nightmares and record high costs for farmers trying to move their grain to market via rail.