SASKATOON, Sask. – Vancouver and Prince Rupert ports have laid off 181 grain workers because of low shipments of prairie grain.
“The country elevators are empty,” said Lorraine Dodick, co-ordinator of grain allocation for the Grain Transportation Agency, which co-ordinates grain movement.
Last year at this time 4,500 to 5,000 grain cars a week were shipped to Vancouver and 1,800 to Prince Rupert. This year they’re “scraping to get 1,000 cars to Vancouver, and there hasn’t been a shipment to Prince Rupert for three weeks, said Dodick, of Winnipeg.
“We’re all waiting for the next crop,” said Dodick.
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The amount of grain still on farms, in the country elevators and terminals is at one of the lowest levels ever, said Canadian Wheat Board spokesperson Brian Stacey.
As of mid-August there were 5.3 million tonnes in country elevators and terminals. A year ago there were nine million tonnes, said Stacey.
“They’re carrying a lot less grain in country elevators and farmers’ carryover is also a lot lower.”
The wheat board estimates there are 3.2 million tonnes of grain on farms at the end of 1994-95, the second lowest level since 1985 when carryover stocks on farm were 2.7 million tonnes.
“It’s very low compared to normal,” he said.
Space in country elevators is at a record high. There is a 70 percent vacancy rate in the elevators.
Officials expect the elevators to remain empty and the layoffs to last another three weeks because of the late harvest.
