where's the arbritrage

[bucket]

That's all good TOM, but then why are they not opening up the rest of Canada for joint running rights??

B Rutter and David Anderson have said that no one wants to put trains on Canadian rail, but in your part of the world it is, in fact, happening.

Interesting, why not for all canadian producers an opportunity to get grain moved???

Just questions, but I do believe that Gates and Buffet have more say than you realize. Which explains why BNSF is your neck of the woods already.

[TOM4CWB]

Is BNSF going to take over CP... is that what you are
saying? I doubt any Canadian Gov would allow it
except maybe the Liberals.

One very good part of the Oil on Rail change is major
upgrades to our rail infrastructure... and better rail
service in the long run.

[bucket]

AT what cost, TOM, a generation of farmers?

You are really missing the point.

I said joint running rights, not a purchase of CP.

Although it might happen with the way things are going.

I can argue this all day.

The real solution is a new service provider that wants the work, and a new route with greater efficiencies.

The problem with the existing infrastructure is that it was built in the 1800s, early 1900s and they haven't done much to it.

The solution must include a North American partnership, that allows grain to flow to the most advantageous ports available.

Mountains are real obstacles, consider that 120 years ago.

Now, the biggest obstacle is political.

Really.

[hobbyfrmr]

I didn't read all the thread but I agree with Tom on
2 points. New channels and relationships will be
built in this new environment. I think the new
generation will figure out where and how to sell. 8
years ago I learned how to load rail cars and that
was a real blessing.
I also have to agree with Tom about the Canadian
beef board sales. The point being that Grassy
have built a solid organic farmgate beef business.
Now collect grassfarmer and all the organic beef
producers not as skilled as grass farmer . Then
everybody sells at the same price. Fair and equal.
Many organic beef producers would appreciate
grass farmer getting less, so they could get more
with less effort.
I remember about a year ago on here I had made
a long post how to sell wheat and get it tested and
ordering the rail cars, it was pretty detailed and in
sept, October November it would have been real
good advice if taken.
I remember the first response. hobby farmer, ****
off!
That almost made me stop AV. I am too lazy to go
search it out. I am laughing now. ....
Your welcome!!!!!

[farmaholic]

Hobby. Pardon me for being naive. But do you
think the railways really want to bring you producer
cars? How many do you order at a time? Do you
use shortlines? If it wasn't for the Canada Grain
Act, I don't think producers would stand a
snowball's chance in hell of getting cars. The
railways didn't want to stop at old wooden country
elevators short distances apart, let alone spot a
couple of cars in some remote spot. The incentive
they give to larger spots and unit trains dictates
such. If it was a free market and they had the
ability to charge what they wanted, they would
make it prohibitive from cost alone.

[bucket]

If everyone ordered producer cars and they actually were spotted, the system would be severely broken, worse than it is now.


The elevator system was built to move product , its broken.

I can get into the producer car loading.

But my spidey senses are tingling if it wouldn't really help farmers as a whole.

And that's where we have to put our efforts.

[farmaholic]

Agreed bucket. It would be the least efficient way.
But if it's there to use and you can bypass the
terminals to avoid the massive basis or you have a
niche market, try to use it. I was simply making the
point the RRs wouldnt do it if they had a choice.

[hobbyfrmr]

Farmaholic, that is the caramilk secret. You are
exactly right, order producer cars through the
CGC as a farmer producer. Because of the
Canada Grain Act,
This is not for everybody. I really really needed the
money, and had to learn a whole new way to
function or it was goodbye farming hello get a job.
Hindsight suggests renting it out and working
would not have been so bad, double income, but I
never would have learned anything.
Maybe we should teach the younger generation
that, we can load rail cars. Maybe we can teach
them that when the industry you work in wants to
**** you over, you do things different to keep your
business going. They know how to use a phone,
fax and internet. That's how canola, peas, lentils,
Canaryseed became what it is. Imagine all of us
still just growing wheat on summerfallow and
selling it to the Kanuckistan wheat board and then
heading home to shut off our brains until
springtime.

[farmaholic]

What surprises me is they haven't removed that
right yet.

[bucket]

I don't mean to offend you hobby, but the system simply has not kept pace with what reality is.

Honestly, we are no better off today than when we had 1000s of small elevators.

The bonus was that they knew the specs in the car.MAybe????

If the system was working properly, you could load your producer cars and get your premium, you earned it, its not my intention to say that it should be taken away.

But the current system is so broken, that a new service provider and a new route is needed to meet the growing exports out of this country.

To continue with the existing system, puts all of us in peril. From grain to oil to potash. And everything in between.