C-N Rail’s Agricultural Advisory Council is already busy at work.
Alanna Koch a Saskatchewan farmer and the former Deputy Minister of Agriculture Chairs the Council and feels it plays an important role.
“First of all from a farmer’s point of view, I think it’s important to always have those of us that are most impacted by the services to be right at the table. So, farmers are the most impacted we know best what we need to serve our farms and our businesses. We know what’s not working well and what could work better.”
She notes they’ve already been giving input on CN’s Annual Grain Plan and will be providing very direct feedback on CN’s Winter Contingency Plan but that’s just the start of it.
“We’ll also talk about what concerns us as farmers from a more general policy side of things, like the volatile trade situation, some of the regulatory barriers we face and how that might impact rail movement along with any other emerging issues.”
She says they’ll also be sharing crop and production improvements that they think will drive growth in the industry which will then help to form CN’s infrastructure investments.
“This I think is their ability to get more regular advice, help to improve their service but also improve their relationship, and their reputation and credibility with farmers who they obviously need to have a trusted relationship with. I think they themselves have admitted they have slipped a bit in that and this council will hopefully help build that trust and better reputation with farmers.”
The 10 member council includes producers from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia.
The CN Agricultural Advisory Council members are as follows;
Saskatchewan Members: Alanna Koch, Edenwold, Farmer, Consultant, Former Saskatchewan Agriculture Deputy Minister Cherilyn Jolly-Nagel, Mossbank, Director, Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association, Public Speaker on Ag Advocacy Todd Lewis, Gray, President, Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan Jim Wickett, Rosetown, Chair, Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association
Manitoba Members: Fred Greig, Reston, Chair, Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association, Former Director, Manitoba Pulse Growers Association Paul Orsak, Russell, Former Director, Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association
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