The national body for over 43,000 canola producers across Canada is set to bring both of the country’s major railways up before regulators to answer for their grain service in 2013-14. The Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) announced Monday it has filed a level-of-service complaint with the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA), alleging Canadian National (CN) […] Read more
Canola Growers file service complaints on CN, CP
U.S. Democrats optimistic EPA to reverse course on biofuel cuts
Washington | Reuters — U.S. senators backing the federal biofuel mandate said Wednesday they believe the Obama administration will likely raise proposed targets for 2014 biofuel use when it issues its final rule next month, after protests from renewable fuel producers that planned cuts would devastate the industry. Representing states with strong agricultural interests, the […] Read more
N.S. eyes environmental fee for tractor tires
Nova Scotia’s government is considering adding a “modest” environmental fee on the sale of new farm tractor tires, as part of a broader plan to cut back the amount of junk now headed to landfills. In a discussion paper released Tuesday on solid waste regulation, the province suggests expanding its current regulatory definition of “tires” […] Read more
CP, grain handlers plan for face time
Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) and players in the Prairie grain industry are ready to sit down at the same table and discuss logistics issues, representatives from both industries said. In a media release last week, CP CEO Hunter Harrison said the railway has contacted customers and stakeholders such as the Western Grain Elevator Association (WGEA). […] Read more
Probe into alleged CN pricing strategy halted
Reuters — Canada’s Competition Bureau said Friday it has halted a probe into alleged unfair pricing practices by Canadian National Railway (CN) due to insufficient evidence. The watchdog investigated allegations that CN had implemented a rail pricing strategy that would lessen or prevent competition in a Vancouver facility for transloading lumber shipped by rail. “It […] Read more
CNH Industrial sees profit rising to $3.4B in 2018
Detroit | Reuters — Tractor and trucks maker CNH Industrial expects operating profit of its industrial activities to rise by more than 1.6 times to US$3.4 billion in 2018, boosted by new product launches and expansion in emerging markets. In a presentation of its 2014-18 industrial plan, the company said it would invest $11.7 billion […] Read more
Feds’ grain freight legislation heads to Senate
UPDATED, May 30, 2014: The federal government’s legislative package to tighten the terms of grain freight service agreements between shippers and railways has cleared the House of Commons. Bill C-30, the Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act, was delayed last Thursday due to an amendment which Commons Speaker Andrew Scheer ruled out of order. [Related […] Read more
Commons’ speaker rejects grain bill amendment on railway payment
Reuters — The speaker of Canada’s House of Commons rejected on Thursday a bill amendment that would allow the government to force railway companies to compensate shippers for expenses incurred because of railways’ failure to deliver service. The amendment was part of Bill C-30, a broader Conservative legislative package by which the government would set […] Read more
Diesel, exchange rate to boost cost index for Prairie grain freight
A price index on which the math is based for how much revenue Canada’s big two railways get to keep from handling Prairie grain will see an above-average raise for the coming crop year. The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) on Monday pegged the volume-related composite price index (VRCPI) for the 2014-15 crop year at 1.3219, up […] Read more
Pearce: Confusion remains surrounding new Fluency Agent
Many in the seed and seed treatment sectors hoped, as the 2013 growing season came to a close, that development of a new fluency agent would be the beginning of the end of controversy between beekeepers and the crops sector. At issue was the use of neonicotinoid-based insecticidal seed treatments and alleged ties to bee […] Read more
