No one (excluding Ritz) has said there isn't a
problem getting grain to market position. But
conspiracy theories, screaming and pointing
fingers, blaming the Government, etc. won't solve
anything. Time to ask "how did we end up in this
mess?" It goes beyond Hunter Harrison. Our grain
handling and transportation system is the result of
the vision and planning from back in the 1980's.
That was when direct seeding was in its' infancy,
when summerfallow was everywhere, and when
yields were a fraction of today. That's when elevator
consolidation entered the picture. And the last time
when investment took place in the infrastructure -
last purchase of hopper cars, construction of the
MacDonald tunnel, terminal construction and
expansion, etc. Now we have 2000's production
technology and a 1980's delivery system. And that
system at the time was named "just in time
delivery". Storage was the responsibility of the
primary producer. I said then it wouldn't work in the
long term and now I am vindicated! So what do we
need to do?
1. Not expect the Govt to solve our problems, we
have a massive infrastructure deficit right across
this Country and I don't think taxpayers are in any
mood to support just a bunch of grain farmers.
2. Some more inland storage in strategic and high
volume locations.
3. The big one: shift the responsibility of trying to
operate an on farm inventory program storage
program to one that is closer to the end user. Just
like the Australians have. Expansion and investment
in West Coast terminals and or new construction.
Maybe Glencore with their deep pockets might see
the potential and surprise us all. Or maybe a brand
new cooperative venture.
4. Time to bag the frustration and become solution
orientation. Maybe we are a victim of our own
success. But we've arrived at the new reality.
problem getting grain to market position. But
conspiracy theories, screaming and pointing
fingers, blaming the Government, etc. won't solve
anything. Time to ask "how did we end up in this
mess?" It goes beyond Hunter Harrison. Our grain
handling and transportation system is the result of
the vision and planning from back in the 1980's.
That was when direct seeding was in its' infancy,
when summerfallow was everywhere, and when
yields were a fraction of today. That's when elevator
consolidation entered the picture. And the last time
when investment took place in the infrastructure -
last purchase of hopper cars, construction of the
MacDonald tunnel, terminal construction and
expansion, etc. Now we have 2000's production
technology and a 1980's delivery system. And that
system at the time was named "just in time
delivery". Storage was the responsibility of the
primary producer. I said then it wouldn't work in the
long term and now I am vindicated! So what do we
need to do?
1. Not expect the Govt to solve our problems, we
have a massive infrastructure deficit right across
this Country and I don't think taxpayers are in any
mood to support just a bunch of grain farmers.
2. Some more inland storage in strategic and high
volume locations.
3. The big one: shift the responsibility of trying to
operate an on farm inventory program storage
program to one that is closer to the end user. Just
like the Australians have. Expansion and investment
in West Coast terminals and or new construction.
Maybe Glencore with their deep pockets might see
the potential and surprise us all. Or maybe a brand
new cooperative venture.
4. Time to bag the frustration and become solution
orientation. Maybe we are a victim of our own
success. But we've arrived at the new reality.