GLICKMAN ANNOUNCES PUBLIC HEARINGS ON AFFECTS OF RAILROAD 
       MERGERS

                                            Release No. 0259.97
                                                               
                                                               
                                   Tom Amontree  (202) 720-4623
                                          tom.amontree@usda.gov
                                   Jim Petterson (202) 720-4623
                                         jim.petterson@usda.gov



GLICKMAN ANNOUNCES PUBLIC HEARINGS ON AFFECTS OF RAILROAD MERGERS

     WASHINGTON, Aug. 1, 1997--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today
announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will hold a series of
public hearings to gather information on the impact of recent rail mergers
on agricultural and rural shippers.  This continues a dialogue that the
Clinton Administration has been conducting with farmers, ranchers and
industry members on the topic of agricultural concentration.

     The first hearing is scheduled for 10:00 a.m, Aug. 6, at the Day's Inn
Dodge House in Dodge City, Kan. The second is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Aug.
7, at the Holiday Inn-Airport, Wichita, Kan.  Hearings are also planned for
other grain-producing states.
     
     Lon Hatamiya, administrator of USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service,
which will conduct the hearings, said these hearings will provide the
department with information on the impact of increasing railroad
concentration as well as information on specific mergers on which the
Surface Transportation Board is holding, or plans to hold, oversight
hearings.  Such oversight hearings are currently underway regarding the
recent merger between the Union Pacific and Southern Pacific Railroads.
     
     Since 1982, the number of major U.S. railroads has dropped from 33 to 
7.  This has resulted in an increase in the overall levels of concentration
in the railroad industry.  In 1982, the top five railroads handled 44
percent of all railroad freight. By 1995, this had increased to 87 percent. 
In 1982, the top five railroads originated 57 percent of all rail grain
traffic.  Thirteen years later, this had grown to 90 percent.

     The hearings will be conducted in "listening-session" format in which
agricultural and rural shippers will have the opportunity to present
information.  Comments presented at the hearings will be recorded.

     For more information, contact John A. Batson, Marketing and
Transportation Analysis Program, Transportation and Marketing Division,
Agricultural Marketing Service, Room 1207-S, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, DC
20090-6456; telephone (202) 690-1303; FAX (202) 690-3616.
                                 
                                

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