Published on September 3, 2025 2:53 pm
Last Updated on September 3, 2025 2:53 pm
By TAMMIE SLOUP FarmWeek
Rural road obstacles such as potholes and weight-restricted bridges for those hauling grain and other farm equipment often leads to repair costs and increased travel times.
Former truck driver and U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, recently introduced legislation that prioritizes federal highway funds to repair and enhance rural roads and bridges critical to farmers and agricultural industries.
Illinois Farm Bureau supports the Agricultural and Rural Roads Improvement Program Act (HR4585), which was introduced July 22 by Bost, who sits on the House Transportation and Infrastructure and Ag committees. IFB members and staff, as well as representatives from other impacted industries, joined Bost at a Rural Roads Roundtable Aug. 25 at the Jasper County Farm Bureau to share their experiences and learn more about the bill.
While federal surface transportation dollars are funneled to states, counties and townships typically only receive a small piece of the money, Bost said.
“This bill directs funding specifically so that last mile or the first mile can actually be invested in so they can make the moves that they need to make while moving grain or moving fertilizer,” Bost told FarmWeek following the roundtable, adding these routes are just as important as the highways they lead to.
The new rural roads program targets crucial improvements in the first- and last-mile connections between farms and local agricultural facilities. By addressing aging roads and weight-restricted bridges, the initiative aims to directly help farmers and rural businesses save time, reduce transportation costs and safely deliver their products.
According to the proposed bill, the program will:
- Improve first- and last-mile access to farms and to facilities producing, supplying, storing and transporting agricultural inputs and products
- Reduce the number of weight-limited bridges and capacity-limited local roads in rural communities
- Improve the safety, resiliency and efficiency of the local roads and rural minor collectors that are essential to a strong American agricultural sector and a vibrant rural economy
“We’re having trouble,” he told FarmWeek. “Equipment took a big jump in the last 10 or so years in size and weight, and it’s hard to get the equipment where we need to be. And it’s getting worse.”
Bost stressed the legislation does not involve new funding, but prioritizing federal funding to bolster ag and rural transportation infrastructure.
IFB Associate Director of Transportation and Infrastructure Rodney Knittel said IFB appreciates Bost’s leadership in making sure rural infrastructure gets the investment it needs to keep Illinois agriculture moving forward.
“Farmers depend on safe and reliable rural roads and local bridges every day to move crops, livestock and equipment,” Knittel said. “Congressman Bost’s Agricultural and Rural Roads Improvement Program Act recognizes that many of these routes aren’t eligible for traditional federal funding.”
The roundtable included attendees from IFB, Total Grain Marketing, Jasper County Farm Bureau, Illinois Trucking Association, The Fertilizer Institute, Grain and Feed Association of Illinois, Consolidated Grain and Barge, Bunge and local government officials.
Earlier in the day, Bost also met with Marion County Farm Bureau members to discuss the impact of the approved budget reconciliation bill, which strengthens the farm safety net, invests in biofuels and extends key tax incentives such as the estate tax.
