Reading Time: 3 minutes “Too little too late.” That comment from the president of the Grain Growers of Canada likely sums it up for many producers across the Prairies. “While western grain farmers are pleased to see that the government and railways have recognized the negative impact that poor rail service is having on farmers, it shouldn’t take a […] Read more

Farm leaders again ask government to act
But with spring road bans and seeding season approaching, any moves are likely ‘too little, too late’

Get grain moving again, KAP says
Move western grain, ASAP. That’s the blunt and urgent message Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) president Dan Mazier told an emergency meeting of the House of Commons’ agriculture committee Monday in Ottawa. The 2013-14 grain shipping backlog cost Western farmers around $6.5 billion and the current one will cost billions again, Mazier said. The first step […] Read more

Farmers call for action on grain transportation
Thousands of rail cars haven’t been delivered in what has been the worst performance since the crisis of 2013-14
Reading Time: 4 minutes Farm groups are redoubling their efforts to get the federal Liberals to move Canadian grain — but their pleas appear to be falling on deaf ears. Olds-area farmer Jeff Nielsen travelled with other farm leaders to Ottawa at the start of the month in a bid to get the government to crack a whip and […] Read more

Grain marketing shifting to a digital focus
Winnipeg | CNS Canada – The future of grain marketing includes access to a larger market for producers online, according to Lyle Ehrmantraut. “You have to be able to see the deals to make the best decisions. So without all the deals in front of you in a centralized system I don’t know how it’s […] Read more

Grain elevators applaud the Parliamentary Committee’s rail recommendations
The Western Grain Elevator Association (WGEA) has added its voice to grain industry organizations praising a report from the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities on rail transportation affecting grain shippers. Recommendations in the report broadly encompass the adjustments required to the Canada Transportation Act to ensure the Canadian economy prospers in the long […] Read more

Prince Rupert needs to be part of rail transport revamp
Expanding the northern B.C. port should be a key part of $10.1-billion plan to improve transportation
Reading Time: 3 minutes The Port of Prince Rupert should be a major beneficiary of Ottawa’s $10.1-billion pledge to revamp transportation routes to international markets, says one of the world’s biggest pulse exporters. “Prince Rupert is a major opportunity — when we look at Pacific gateway access, we need a balanced approach between Vancouver and the Port of Prince […] Read more

CP says its grain movement to Vancouver is its best-ever last month
Canadian Pacific Rail says its western grain movements in October were its best ever despite dealing with a weather-delayed harvest. A record 15,865 carloads were moved to West Coast ports in October, besting the previous record of 15,449 carloads in March 2016. Total Western Canadian grain movements in the month climbed 3.9 per cent over […] Read more

Grains sector continues to welcome transport legislation
CNSC – Accolades from producer groups and others in the grain industry continue to roll in for the federal government’s upcoming transportation legislation. The planned measures were outlined this week by Marc Garneau, the federal transportation minister, in a speech in Montreal. The new legislation will allow reciprocal penalties in service level agreements between railway […] Read more

Proposed transportation legislation gets thumbs up from grain industry
It might feel like Christmas came early for grain grower organizations, who have long been calling for reform of grain transportation regulations. The Federal government has promised to introduce legislation in early 2017 that is going to check some items off their wish list. Transport Minister Marc Garneau unveiled the federal government’s plans in a […] Read more

Wheat commission wants rail transport changes
The farm group says reciprocal penalties, a revenue cap, and more interswitching are needed to level the playing field in grain transportation
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Alberta Wheat Commission is calling on Ottawa to make reciprocal penalties part of any changes to the Canada Transportation Act. In a submission to Transport Minister Marc Garneau, the commission urges the government to implement a model that would provide shippers the ability to negotiate penalties and contract terms equal to those that are […] Read more