Latest inStatistics Canada | The Western Producer

Travis Rawson, elevator assistant at the Paterson Grain terminal northwest of Winnipeg, checks out winter wheat stored in a massive pile at the elevator. The pile, which is longer than a football field and an estimated 15-20 metres high, contained 31,000 tonnes of winter wheat Aug. 26. The pile is aerated, covered and is contained by a steel ring that looks like the wall of a grain bin. Paterson Grain decided to store grain outside this year because in previous years, winter wheat occupied a large portion of storage capacity at the terminal, leaving little space for other crops. | Robert Arnason photo

Handling system expects massive crop

Grain volume to test system | Pressure on elevators is likely to weaken basis levels, says one analyst

Western Canadian farmers are poised to harvest a monster crop, which analysts say will strain the grain handling and transportation system and pressure basis levels. Statistics Canada forecasts 80 million tonnes of principal field crops, up from 73 million tonnes last year. “We added everything up and it looks like a record,” said Charlie Pearson, […] Read more

August 29, 2013