Producer cars and the CWB???

[Jagfarms]

What percentage of producer cars are not Cwb grains?

From what I know at present almost all producer cars are used for CWB grains.

[bucket]

Keeps adrian measner in a job at mission terminal (quite an appropriate name when you think about it).

It would be nice to see the unloads at the terminals as it is our business. It would be nice to see what is bought vs. what is shipped vs. what it is at the terminal vs. what is sold. Oh, that would be accountability from the cwb to the people they work for. Where was my mind at?!.

[TOM4CWB]

Jagfarms,

The biggest reason producers cars work for CWB grains shipped to Port is COST.

Canola margins are razor thin... there is no economic benefit to having growers load their own cars of Canola... because the folks now doing this job do it for far less than what a farmer can. CWB grains have a built in handling profit. Growers loading CWB producer cars can therefore lower cost by doing their own shipping/handling.

[Jagfarms]

Thanks Tom for the info.

I always like to read what you post and value your opinion.

Jason

[Jagfarms]

Hello Tom I quoted you below and I will post my thoughts below your post.

"Canola margins are razor thin... there is no economic benefit to having growers load their own cars of Canola... because the folks now doing this job do it for far less than what a farmer can. CWB grains have a built in handling profit. Growers loading CWB producer cars can therefore lower cost by doing their own shipping/handling."


My thoughts below. I do not know if I am right or wrong but it is my opinion.

The Cwb grains handling profit is the same for producer car loading sites, farmer owned independent terminals, Viterra, Pioneer etc.

If there was no Cwb it would be hard for the Producer car loading sites and the farmer owned independent terminals to compete with the big players.

This would hurt the small branch lines, the producer car loading sites and the farmer owned independent terminals.

With out the small branch lines, the producer car loading sites and the farmer owned independent terminals Cp and Cn would really have us bent over.
They would only provide service to the big terminals on the main lines.
We would end up hauling our grain further distances. We could loose our branch lines, producer car loading sites, farmer owned terminals.
It would be great for my trucking business but bad for our highways, communities.
Once the railroads are taken out there would be no getting them back.

There would be less competition.
It would not be good in my opinion.

[TOM4CWB]

Jason,

Logical, I agree. The CWB single desk is NOT required to maintain producer owned terminals or rail car loading sites.

Grain hauled while the ground is frozen has little effect on either rail road beds or regular roads.

We need a regulatory system that encourages competition... not one that drives industry into monopoly power battles. Unfortunately CWB powers drive private industry into alliances to counter the CWB powers... further reducing grain grower options.

Grain growers are led to believe that the CWB can create efficiency/ through CWB regulation of this private industry.

For those growers with no investment in large grain handling companies; the CWB appears to protect against private industry alliances and interests... while at the same time increasing costs to those grain growers who use the conventional grain handling system.

There is a measure of valuable arbitrage between the two handling systems.

Hence grain growers... just like in the 'Freedom of Choice' (CWB to remain a market choice) debate...

VOTE NOT to take the choice AWAY from a farm neighbour who uses the producer car system. THe CWB has traction on this issue... and is riding it for dear life!