Cholin is a retired grain farmer from Kerrobert, Sask.
It wasn’t surprising to a majority of farmers that the three grain companies, James Richardson International, Cargill Ltd. and Viterra, have sided with the Canadian National Railway in its level of service dispute with small grain shippers.
For anyone using the grain transportation system, it’s clear the strategy to close additional grain handling facilities and rip up more rail track is still on. This will only transfer additional costs to farmers and the road system, while padding the profits for the railway coffers.
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What is irritating is the statement: ” ‘Cargill is concerned that the extent and type of remedies being sought … may have a negative impact on overall efficiency in the system and thereby act to constrain, rather than enhance, overall capacity for grain shippers,’ said Tom Cascisa, the company’s senior transportation manager.” (WP, Nov. 8)
This is laughable. After the railways have ripped up thousands of kilometres of track and the grain companies have reduced the number of delivery points by over 80 percent, the efficiencies in this new system are still not seen by farmers.
Elevation and handling rates by the grain companies have doubled and the freight rates from the railways have increased at least six fold. No one seems to be concerned about that real negative impact.
To frustrate farmers even more, all the “efficiencies” that have been implemented have not significantly changed the car turn around cycle time in the last 30 years. So even though farmers have been paying more, the level of service remains lousy.
And where is our federal government in their drive to provide farmers “choice” and “freedom”? They attack the Canadian Wheat Board and sit idly by and watch farmers get taken to the cleaners …. Maybe they should tackle the ones who are gouging producers and holding them captive.
