What to do with the railroaded over payments?

[haveapulse]

It was suggested that there are many ways to dispense the millions of dollars in railway overcharges, inclusing return them to farmers.
The very best one I have heard to date ie:
use the money to start a fund for diversification of farm industry.

The suggestion was to build a fertilizer plant that operated at cost for farmers.

60 million would be a good start, he figured.

Given the fact that the promised value add did not happen and the amazing cost efficiencies seem to have gone only to sharholders hands, this is the best idea I have heard to date.

We could use this pool of money to diversify our own sector and reinvest into value add business across THE WEST.

While research is a great idea, we already contribute through commodity check offs and it is after all, farmers money. We should get to decide.

And since we have a western Ag Minister maybe this is one thing we could see happen for our benefit.

[husker]

It's my money I want it back.

[furrowtickler]

I like the idea of a farmer owned fert plant.

[silverback]

That's a pretty good idea.

I would volunteer a week or two of work there to guarantee a better fertilizer supply than we have now.

[silverback]

Give it back to rightful owners!!

[husker]

So in a farmer owned fertilizer plant would you operate on a breakeven price to then farmer owners, or would you charge the market price.

[parsley]

Planning how to spend other people's money is always fun, isn't it?

Pars

[agstar77]

Not a particularily practical idea, to own a fertilizer plant. Perhaps spending on research into decreasing dependence on fertilizer through biological methods or new production methods. Perhaps buying into a new hopper fleet.

[wmoebis]

So we can give them to the railways to use, so they can use them to screw us again?

First I want to see somebody have to be accountable and checks put in place so it doesn't happen again. Somebody should be looking for a new job.

Anyone of us could have told them that we are paying too much for frieght.

[cottonpicken]

A round the clock team of lawyers fighting for farmers on all fronts.

[Kodiak]

That should use up the money nice and quickly. Then we won't have to argue about where it should go.

[mustardman]

So seeings how the promised value added did not happen and the cost savings have not been passed on to the farmers only to shareholders THEN sorry CNR and CPR you had your chance... We are now reinstalling the Crow rate.
(if only we had some politicos with balls)

[agstar77]

No Crow , but if they had Balls they would institute open running rights.

[mcfarms]

I have suggested to a couple of folks I know that at the very least as a producer I want my investment tax credit for my portion of the overpayment.

[mustardman]

Yes open running rights would be good maybe more realistic
although the lobbyists would be getting paid thru the roof by the RR's to stop that possibility