CHESTERFIELD, MISSOURI, U.S. — The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) on July 30 expressed disappointment that the U.S. Congress failed to pass a long-term highway funding bill before its August recess. Congress voted to extend the United States Highway Trust Fund’s authorization through Oct. 29, the second short-term extension this year.

“Once again, Congress kicked the can down the road – and that road is in bad shape,” said NCGA president Chip Bowling, a farmer from Newburg, Maryland, U.S. “Farmers rely on our nation’s infrastructure system every day. We need safe, reliable roads and bridges to get our products to market quickly, safely and efficiently. Instead, our roads and bridges are at best, in disrepair, and at worst, unsafe or unusable – and that hurts every farmer in America.”

80% of the domestic corn crop is trucked to market, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service. By one estimate, America’s transportation deficiencies will cost U.S. agriculture $1.3 billion in exports by 2020. Approximately 73% of America’s bridges are located in rural areas, which disproportionality rely on federal funding for repairs and maintenance.

“It’s time to get serious about passing a long-term highway funding bill. Every year we don’t act, the cost of repairs increase, and the burden on our economy grows. Senators and Representatives are returning to their home states for August. recess. We’re asking them to take notice of their roads and bridges, to listen to their constituents, and to come back to Washington with solutions for our nation’s infrastructure problem” said Bowling.