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Western Canadian farmers continue to worry about grain shipment delays

Western Canadian farmers continue to worry about grain shipment delays

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture is urging Ottawa to pass Bill C-49

By Diego Flammini
News Reporter
Farms.com

Western Canadian grain producers can do nothing but wait as grain shipment delays continue to hamper operations and bill payments.

“It’s frustrating,” Bill Prybylski, a farmer from Willowbrook, Sask., told CBC yesterday, referring to the fact that only about 25 per cent of his crop has been moved instead of the usual 50 per cent.

“We know we have financial commitments and the only way to meet those commitments are to move the grain, and that’s just not happening.”



 

An Act to amend the Canada Transportation Act and Other Acts, commonly referred to as Bill C-49, passed its second reading in the Senate in early December. The bill still needs to pass a third reading and receive Royal Assent from the Governor General before it can become law.

This winter, harsh weather conditions and a surge in energy production have driven up rail demand and caused the shipment shortage, according to Bloomberg.

But blaming the weather doesn’t hold much weight with farmers.

“Perhaps that’s poor management on (the railways’) part because the crop is there,” he told CBC. “They know every year they got to ship this amount of grain out, so you would hope they could plan ahead to get the job done.”

The railways are putting plans into action to help farmers get their grain moved.

Canadian Pacific is increasing its available number of crew members and trains. And Canadian National plans to add 400 new conductors by the end of March and another 375 by the end of June, according to emails CBC received from the respective railways.

Canadian farmers have also brought their concerns to the federal government.

Members of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) were in Ottawa this week to urge Senators to expedite the passage of Bill C-49.

“Farmers in Western Canada only get paid when they deliver grain,” a CFA statement said yesterday. “The lack of grain movement is putting hard working farm families in a position where seed, fuel and fertilizer bills must go unpaid and where they do not know if they can make rent and mortgage payments.

“Bill C-49 includes measures to increase competition and accountability in the rail system and provides farmers with some tools to help address problems with grain rail shipments.”

Members of Western Canada’s agricultural industry also appeared before a Senate committee to stress the importance of a reliable grain transport system.

“Producers are heavily reliant on Canada’s railways,” Todd Lewis, president of Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, told the Senate standing committee on transport and communications on Feb. 14, adding that some grain must travel 1,900 km to reach a port.”


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The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

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