Extending Fair Rail Provisions Keeps an Important Tool in Farmers’ Hands

Jun 16, 2016

Canola farmers are pleased that the Government of Canada has approved a one-year extension of Canada Transportation Act provisions that were enacted in 2014 by Bill C-30, the Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act. The announcement of the extension was made by the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, and the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, shortly after being approved by the House of Commons and the Senate.

“For many months, canola farmers have been talking about the importance of these provisions and asking for them to be extended,” says Brett Halstead, President of the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA). “We are pleased that the provisions will be maintained while the industry continues to work with government on building a long-term plan for efficiently shipping our production by rail.”

Of particular importance is the maintenance of the extended interswitching limits of 160 kilometers. Interswitching is a tool that allows the shipper to effectively choose their rail carrier despite having physical access to one. This provides an element of competition between major railways, and has emerged as an effective tool in establishing more competitive rates and service levels.

“With 90% of Canadian canola exported internationally, there’s no question that growers rely on rail transportation to get their grain to market,” says Halstead. “Extending these provisions means farmers will continue to have competitive options, and we thank the government for listening to farmers’ concerns.”

In addition to supporting service levels, the extension provides more time to fully assess the recommendations presented in the report from the Canada Transportation Act Review Panel. A more long-term or permanent solution is expected to be tabled for consideration by the Government prior to August 1, 2017.

“While today’s announcement is just a small piece in the larger picture of Canada Transportation Act Review Panel recommendations, we look forward to studying these issues and working with government in the year ahead,” says Steve Pratte, Policy Manager at CCGA. “We want to ensure that the farmer voice continues to be present during decision-making, with the goal being to rebalance the shipper-railway relationship on a long-term basis.”

Source : Canadian Canola Growers Association

Video: Root Exudates, Soil Biology, and How Plants Recruit Microbes | Field Talk Friday

Field Talk Friday | Dr. John Murphy | Root Exudates, Soil Biology, and How Plants Recruit Microbes

Most of us spend our time managing what we can see above ground—plant height, leaf color, stand counts, and yield potential. But the deeper you dig into agronomy, the more you realize that some of the most important processes driving crop performance are happening just millimeters below the surface.

In this episode of Field Talk Friday, Dr. John Murphy continues the soil biology series by diving into one of the most fascinating topics in modern agronomy: root exudates and the role they play in shaping the microbial world around plant roots.

Roots are not passive structures simply pulling nutrients out of the soil. They are active participants in the underground ecosystem. Plants constantly release compounds into the soil—sugars, amino acids, organic acids, and other molecules—that act as both energy sources and signals for soil microbes.