While the Harpster has his beady little eyes

[mustardman]

On the wheat board the railroads quietly raise their freight rate $2/tonne.
Heh Tom how's that rail revue promised by the cons coming? Or is that RR lobby just a bit too strong?

[Braveheart]

The best competition nagainst railways is something like a pasta plant in southern SK, a flour mill somewhere on the prairies, hog barn, feedlot, and yes an open border.

It's a fact that when oats were removed from the CWB freight rates and elevation tariffs had to drop to keep trucks from taking oats to Minneapolis.

So, in essence, the single buying desk, by keeping the pasta plants, flour mills, and any other processing squashed as well as the border closed is the main contributor to railway market power.

[Braveheart]

I'd rather deal with the Harpster than "Harpies" like the Friends of the CWB.

[mustardman]

Oh yes braveheart there will be a Pasta plant in every little town across the prairies. lol Hope your town has an empty lot

[mustardman]

The railroad must love the cons for the red herring distraction they've created for them.

Oh well probably just another high paid directorship for some con mps will be enough of a bribe to keep the books from being opened up.

[Braveheart]

The railways LOVE the single buying desk. It keeps western farmers captive to them (railways).

It was always such a political circus to watch the board launch Level of Service complaints, make a big noise about the railways blah, blah, when they relied on one another for service/business.

Yes, the railways have market power. That won't change anytime soon if ever. But to close your mind to at least the concept of value added opportunities is slamming the door on competition for said railways. But that was the old wheat pool/wheat board way. Great legacy.

By the way, we're open for business.

[gregpet]

You mean freight rates never increased while the Liberals were in power?

[Braveheart]

Good point gregpet. They also wasted money and everyones' time with Estey and Kroeger and discarded the recommendations. They did this of course because it was determined that the board was part of the problem.

[SASKFARMER3]

Mustard are you the idiot I met in the airport in
Cancun 3 years ago from sw sask that was CWB
crazy.
Your logic makes no sence to anybody.
Simply let me out what are you afraid of. You can
have your CWB, why do you need me?

[LWeber]

Why worry about the extra 5.4 cents a bushel going to the railways when the western Canadian fixed price for durum is $9.05 - and $11.91, 17 miles inside the U.S. border.


thats $2.86 ...and you are worried about the railway's lobby?

I can't stand the RR lobby either...but call a spade a spade. Who is screwing you more?

[malta]

Love the logic mustardman. Railways near monopoly, lousy service high cost is bad. CWB complete monopoly, lousy service really high costs, good???????????
If the CWB is good because you get to elect the board of directors, you can do the same thing with RR. I bought stock in the Rail companies and get to vote on the board. The vote is just as meaningless as my vote for the CWB director.

[mustardman]

Saskfarmer - No sorry that wasn't me. I was thru Cancun years ago when Cozumel had only 2 old hotels on it. Haven't been back since it became a zoo

My point is that Although Promised rail revue will never see the light of day.
Braveheart don't forget that the same people who told You the streets would be paved with gold if we ended the Crow rate - are now telling you the same about ending the wheat board

Remember the old saying 'Location Location Location" this refers to Pasta Plants as well. To be Successful they need to be built close to population

[highwayman]

I guess thats why all those canola crushing plants are being built on the outskirts of New York City. Semolina can be shipped to the populated areas just as easy as canola oil and meal.

[LWeber]

http://www.ndwheat.com/growers/detail.asp?newsID=1101

Five companies in 2004 make pasta in North Dakota (population 672,591) at plants in six locations.

Conte Luna Foods, Grand Forks (population 52,838)

Dakota Growers Pasta Company, Carrington (population 2,268)

Noodles by Leonardo, Cando and Devils Lake (Cando population 1,342 – Devils Lake: 7222 )

Golden Plains Frozen Foods, Leeds (population 464)

La Rinascente Pasta, Hope (population 258)

[Fransisco]

Gosh darn it, there's those facts again. LOL