Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig is leading a bipartisan, multi-state effort urging federal regulators to closely scrutinize the proposed merger between Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern, citing concerns about competition and long-term impacts on agriculture. In a letter to the Surface Transportation Board (STB), Naig and his colleagues from nine other states requested a careful, thorough evaluation of the merger and emphasized the need to preserve and expand competition across the agricultural economy. They write, “As representatives serving, promoting, and protecting agriculture, we ask you to carefully evaluate the impact of additional consolidation in the nation’s freight railroad system. The proposed merger between the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS) raises important questions for America’s agricultural industry, which is uniquely reliant on a reliable, competitive, and resilient rail network.” The letter highlights three priorities: preserving competition and choice for shippers, ensuring reliable, resilient supply chains for time-sensitive agricultural production, and recognizing the systemwide impacts that large mergers can have on infrastructure, businesses, and rural communities. The letter did not directly oppose the proposed merger, but it urged the board approve the merger only if it provides clear, enforceable benefits to competition and service for agricultural shippers. The full letter is included with this story on our website.
