Photos: Farms bought out for Port MacKenzie rail extension

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Todd Hecker and Sam Teeple troubleshoot a hay baler while working Hecker's former land on Wednesday, July 15, 2015, at Point MacKenzie. Hecker is one of several Point MacKenzie farmers the Mat-Su Borough bought out to prepare for the railroad extension going from Port MacKenzie to the Parks Highway. He got $2.8 million to buy a farm across the road and build a house, and is in the process of clearing the land. Until then, he has the use of his old land this year and next to raise his crops until the new land can begin producing.

POINT MACKENZIE -- The state of Alaska paid nine farmers more than $8 million to clear a path for the as-yet unfinished 32-mile railroad line slated to cross Point MacKenzie farmlands en route from the Matanuska-Susitna Borough port to the Parks Highway.

The rates paid to the farmers in the railroad's path appear -- at least at first glance -- to vary widely, and run as high as as $115,120 per acre when calculated based on the land needed for the railroad.

The rail extension project aimed at bringing new industry to Port MacKenzie is about two-thirds complete, but still needs $121 million. Legislators facing a multi-billion-dollar shortfall from low oil prices provided no new funding this past legislative session. Borough officials say there will be no new rail construction without new funding.

READ MORE: Farmers in path of stalled Point MacKenzie railroad line get $8 million