Ocean Freight...$27 to Japan

[TOM4CWB]

9999Freight rates continued sliding this week, with the Baltic Panamax Index hitting its lowest point since May 2009. The index closed at 1,944 on Friday, a decline of 58 percent since May 21 and a 21 percent drop from a week ago. Destination routes fell lower as well, with Gulf/Japan at $51/mt and PNW/Japan at $27/mt.

[bucket]

Wouldn't it be nice to link rail freight in Canada with the same formula?

Ocean freight goes up and down with demand. Boats keep getting built, product moves around the world.

In Canada we just keep on paying higher and higher rates.

Walmart, canadian tire etc freight costs keep coming down.

[furrowtickler]

Good point bucket.

[mcfarms]

One small problem the ocean has competition, we on the other hand do not.

[TOM4CWB]

Actually with the multi-spot rebate (trucking incentive) I am paying less now for west coast freight now than 10 years ago. Hopper car maintenance rebates have helped. On the rail cost we are paying much less rail cost than Montana growers!

What are you guys talking about?

[wmoebis]

We had a good deal on freight till some groups lobbied the gov't to get rid of it. It was called the crow.

Anyone care to stand up and take a bow.

[checking]

The day that Goodale signed off on the Crow for us is the day he also should have signed off on the CWB. You have much in common with Ralph. He also doesn't understand how free enterprise works.

[rockpile]

Among just about every cattlemen's organization,
the WCWGA, Western Barley Growers, the Alberta
Barley Commission and the Alberta Government -
THEY were all in favour of getting rid of the Crow
Statutory Rate. The RR's never lost a nickel hauling
grain - they were compensated by Federal
contributions - one of the very few expenditures
the Feds made that directly helped Western Farmers
earn a paycheque. The result was supposed to be
greater efficiencies and lower costs to primary grain
producers, as well as increased value added activity
and new avenues of profitability. All it did in the
end is increase RR and Grain Company revenues
while destroying roads in the rural RM's. What I find
repugnant is how some of these Organizations are
now trying to re-write history and white wash their
former policies and dumping it all on Goodale - he
did what the farm lobby groups and the RR's
wanted all along. So where is that $10/tonne
freight rate that was being promised 20 years ago?
Like coal rates?

[parsley]

Na, nah, nah, Rocky. YOU are trying to re-write history.

Goodale is the political slime who even ignored his own commissioned Western Grain Marketing Panel report.

History: BOTH CWB and CROW were supposed to be simutaneously allowed to operate in a free marketplace. The CROW was let out of the legislated pen but the CWB was not.

I cannot imagine anyone that I would more wish to send to the North Korea army for ten years, no return, than Goodale. Pars

[parsley]

Read checking's poat again. checking has a good memory. Pars

[rockpile]

Sorry Pars, but YOU are the revisionist! The Grain
Marketing Panel Report recommended that feed grains
be released from the CWB, but that Malt Barley
Marketing remain under the jurisdiction of the Board -
a bit of a difficult situation. Be careful - I was there
and can quote panel members. As for the Crow -
whole different lobby effort. The WBGA really screwed
up on this one - grow the balls to admit it!!!

[TOM4CWB]

rockpile,

strange how we were discussing how freight rates had DROPPED in half... and you are busy defending Liberals.

I recall CPS wheat was to be free of the CWB... and feed barley.

We do have selective memories... HOW good it was with the crow... buying new hopper cars for the railways... BUT where is the increase in cash wheat prices... that should be expected... if the CWB were actually working for western grain farmers?

[rockpile]

Tom - News Flash - Goodale was/is a passionate
supporter of the CWB and under his watch it was
unlikely that there would be radical changes
regardless of the number of panel reports, etc. So
what's up with Ritz and company? Btw, I'm not
defending Liberals or anyone - just observing.
You are talking global transit rates and recent
changes, I'm focused on our non competitive RR's
and their impact on what is a captive and very
lucrative part of their business operations. Just read
the annual reports.Oh, by the way, so who's buying
hopper cars now?

[TOM4CWB]

Rockpile...;

' where is the increase in cash wheat prices... that should be expected... if the CWB were actually working for western grain farmers?'

Answer... in the pool?

Cash prices are really pool prices disguised. Early Payment options are sometimes higher value than FPC/BPC. What does that tell you?

THis is a slight of hand... non-transparent... non-commercial system... exactly the opposite of CWB claims.

That is the problem Rockpile... deception layered upon half-truths.

I object... the least the CWB can do is stop wasting my money on the mirage 'single desk'sales system propaganda!

We still have never seen a cash price from the CWB system. All the Board grain... has been sold through the pools.

[cottonpicken]

Tom,ive never studied it much,heard rumorrs ands
things,but how large will off farm container traffic
become in your opinion?