I remember not so long ago when we just had Alberta Wheat Pool and United Grain Growers, both co-operatives and very poor service. They were open 8:00 AM to 12:00 and 1:00 to 5:00PM five days a week and there was no real competition, because they only had to look after their members. To be fair to the elevator managers, they didn’t get the labor support to be open more hours.
The best thing that happen was when Cargill came to town, this started a little competition and all the elevators stayed open 12 hour seven days a week and some 24 hours a day. This sure made it nice for farmers delivering grain and not trying to beat the clock because the elevator was closing at 5:00 PM.
Farmers started to expand to try and lower the cost of production, also bought bigger trucks to be more efficient in transporting grain.
The co-operative farmer owned elevators didn’t keep up at the same rate to improve the grain handling facilities. Board directors were not keeping up with farmer needs and farmers were reluctant to invest more money to expand services. The co-ops started to borrow money so they could upgrade the grain handling facilities and we all know the rest of the story.
You have to work with large volumes to be efficient; also need good managers that look for ways to cut operating cost and still proved good service.
Canada’s small population and good grain and livestock production, we need foreign investment to help us process and export our products.
I welcome corporations like ADM to come in and work as partners.
I believe we still have fairly good Government competition legislation to stop large corporation monopolies.
The best thing that happen was when Cargill came to town, this started a little competition and all the elevators stayed open 12 hour seven days a week and some 24 hours a day. This sure made it nice for farmers delivering grain and not trying to beat the clock because the elevator was closing at 5:00 PM.
Farmers started to expand to try and lower the cost of production, also bought bigger trucks to be more efficient in transporting grain.
The co-operative farmer owned elevators didn’t keep up at the same rate to improve the grain handling facilities. Board directors were not keeping up with farmer needs and farmers were reluctant to invest more money to expand services. The co-ops started to borrow money so they could upgrade the grain handling facilities and we all know the rest of the story.
You have to work with large volumes to be efficient; also need good managers that look for ways to cut operating cost and still proved good service.
Canada’s small population and good grain and livestock production, we need foreign investment to help us process and export our products.
I welcome corporations like ADM to come in and work as partners.
I believe we still have fairly good Government competition legislation to stop large corporation monopolies.
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