cars

[nicolaas]

I guess the cwb is going the way of the dodo. I havn't given it much thought one way or the other to be honest. I am curious what will happen to farmers ability to get producer cars. I am almost 100% sure you will not be able to order them from Viterra. I also wonder what will happen to the CWB cars? How about the farmers on these short line raillines? Will the big boys give them cars? Any thoughts?

[agstar77]

Don't worry Ritz will protect them.

[Choice2U]

Just remember that producer cars were hated by the CWB in the 80's/90's and weren't their love until they could use farmer railcar loading sites to their advantage and then began the love-in. If they existed when they were hated by the CWB, they will exist when the CWB has lost it's monopoly.

[nicolaas]

I order cars from the cwb, they show up at the loading site after a few months. Years ago the local terminal gave me a "intro" elevation rate to get back my business. It has since disapeared over the years, but my "dockage" has increased. (dockage at the coast is always lower for some reason) I plan on going back to somme producer cars this winter, and am curious as to what will happen next year. There is definately no free lunch.

[charliep]

Will note producer are actually administered by the Canadian Grain Commission - many things will not change. The issue will be who administers the rail cars for you (the CWB handles this in the current world) and access to unload at port facilities in the post August 1, 2012.

I suspect this will remain a service the CWB could offer in the new world. The question then becomes the business model that would allow the CWB to continue to offer this service and what would need to go into the new Act to protect this right. From there, how the CWB operates - would a pooled price into a producer car (regardless of cost saving/other potential benefits like grading) be acceptable when you can get offered a cash at unload price into an elevator?

[TOM4CWB]

Dear Charlie,

We need all the options we can get.

The CWB ships hopper cars into the US. Grain Growers need the same opportunity to arbitage the US market. Ocean port position for shipping like through Kingsgate Idaho to Seattle or Portland... would be the most likely shipping opportunity to arbitage international milling wheat markets and cause the least border disruptions.

[Braveheart]

We used to self administer producer cars through the CGC. There were specific forms you used. I doubt that has changed.

[charliep]

It is good discussion and questions. Should note the CGC is responsible for forms and administration of process. You still have to find space at port to unload an export destined grain. CWB can do this today because they take delivery at port for export sales on their account. Someone will correct me but there are no canola producer cars for this reason.

Above has been a question that has been asked. Interesting to have a discussion of how the processs of producer cars will work in the new world. Suspect there are solutions - just a matter of being creative. Similar comments could be asked about farm owned terminals (most have relationship with grain companies at port or access to the independent terminal at Vancouver) and some of the short line rail companies.

[wmoebis]

Can these questions be answered before the Gov't tells us it's role (if any) in the CWB.

We don't have an Act covering canola or pulses. We have quality contol but not handling and marketing. No Minister of Canola. No Minister of Cargil or Viterra.

[hobbyfrmr]

I have shipped lots of grain by rail car. The order desk is administered by the Canadian Grain Commission. There is a section in the grain act giving priority of weekly rail car allocations to farmers. This has gone relatively smoothly, sometimes the railroad is a week late. I shipped mostly organic, the end user clears customs with their broker. I still have to do a buy back on board grains. I am satisfied with shipping by rail car. I do not know too much about shipping to export, my grain gets to New Westminster BC and then goes south. All I know is do not let line companies "help" you order rail cars. DO IT YOURSELF, ITS A ONE SHEET FAX ORDER. Anytime anyone else wants to order for you, good luck, you will wait 3 months for your rail car. Look after your own business. the CGC will send you a calendar of shipping weeks if you ask. DO IT YOURSELF...DO IT YOURSELF...DO IT YOURSELF...FIGURE IT OUT...DO IT YOURSELF.

[food4u]

I am sure you can order producer cars for canola or flax BUT you must have a sale to apply them too.

[stubblejumper]

you need a CWB # to order a producer car, if there is no CWB there will be no cars

[FarmRanger]

....because nobody else could ever be capable of
issuing an 8 digit number.

Hilarious

[grefer]

If it is not cwb grain you don't need a number from them.If you order your own through the CGC they give you the number you need.They are quite good to work with and the cars do seem to come quicker if the producers order their own as the railroads are required to allocate a portin of railcars each week to producers if they have been ordered.I have also had brokers order cars and it has gone quite well also and they perfer to order their own alot of the time.If they order their own I cannot track the car through CN's tracking system thus I cannot bypass the broker the next time as I would have the location that the car traveled to and with a bit of work could find who purchased the grain.

[hobbyfrmr]

grefer you can track rail cars via cn and cp websites. Sign up as a customer. I have done this as well, not to circumvent buyers, but to know when the car reached destination. Then I would wait a day, and call them up for the unload weights and request payment. I should back up a little. I would load the car, release it to the rail line, then fax in the rail car number, weights and a 60 day invoice to the buyer. Then I would track the car, they usually have an ETA on the website.