News

Ag trade groups say infrastructure investment is badly needed

The executive director of Farmers For Free Trade says President Biden’s American Jobs Plan is filled with areas that will benefit rural America.

“Major investments in roads and bridges, inland waterways—really critical for agricultural products in the Midwest, and then also $100 billion investment in broadband infrastructure.”

Brian Kuehl tells Brownfield the success of the country’s agricultural trade is reliant on sound infrastructure.

“We waited for years and years and years to invest in infrastructure and our roads are crumbling,” he says.  “The American Society of Civil Engineers gives our infrastructure a C+ I believe—we can do better.”

Krysta Harden, head of the U.S. Dairy Export Council, tells Brownfield the country’s infrastructure is crumbling and she’s excited to see investment where it’s needed.

“Broadband is a disadvantage for a rural business, and our dairy farmers are businesspeople,” she says.  “They need the same infrastructure that their counterparts do have in suburban and urban areas.”

Kuehl says while Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said she wants to see a package before the Fourth of July, he thinks later in the summer is more likely.

U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack is calling the plan a once-in-a-century capital investment in America that will meet current infrastructure needs and invest in a brighter future.