ND Eyes Improvements for Crumbling Roads in Farming Towns

It is not just the weather or commodity prices farmers have to worry about. Many rural communities struggle to keep their roads and bridges in good shape, making farming life even harder and now, North Dakota is trying to correct the issue.

This year, state lawmakers have expanded eligibility for agriculture infrastructure grants awarded to towns with populations under 1,500.

Rob Schmidt, chairman of the Olivier County Commission and a rancher in Hensler, said it is welcome news because some local roads have self-imposed speed limits of 25 miles an hour because of the shape they are in, citing the effects from heavy truck traffic linked to a nearby refinery and an ethanol plant.