The Manitoba port of Churchill’s first grain cargo of the year began loading July 30.
Although this summer and spring have been colder than usual, the opening of Churchill grain shipping is not far behind schedule.
“Late July to early November is a very typical season,” said Canadian Wheat Board spokesperson Louise Waldman.
Churchill’s board grain volume has varied radically, with 276,000 tonnes shipped in 2002 but 511,000 in 2000.
Last year, about 370,000 tonnes of board grains went through the port and “we’re expecting to have a very comparable program this year,” said Waldman.
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The port’s advisory board has been trying to increase the volume of board and non-board grains flowing through the port, as well as finding new products to be shipped along the rail line that connects Churchill to the south.
This first shipment out of Churchill this summer is 40,000 tonnes of Canada Western red spring wheat.
Churchill receives mainly Saskatchewan grains because the rail line feeding the port runs in eastern Saskatchewan.
The port’s grain volumes fell sharply during the recent drought, but recovered last year when a more normal crop was produced.
