The House passage this week of the Disaster Bill is helpful for the nation’s ag transportation system. The measure provided $575 million for the Army Corps of Engineer’s Operation and Maintenance of the Mississippi River and Tributaries. That will help the Corps address emergency situations on their projects and repair damages caused by natural disasters. Soy Transportation Coalition Executive Director Mike Steenhoek says it’s positive legislation.

He says flooding this year has had a major negative impact on the nation’s ag transportation system and it hasn’t let up yet.

Steenhoek says besides getting a new infrastructure bill passed, the next step they’re hoping for is reauthorization of the highway bill which happens in 2020 with work already begun on that.

He says they’d also like to see the federal government approved dredging of the lower Mississippi river to help with ag transportation needs.