CWB Change an Opportunity?

Farmers of North America sees the removal of the single desk as an opportunity for  farmers to gain back some control with their marketing and logistics.

Bill Martin is Vice President of Grain Handling, Marketing and Transportation with Farmers of North America.

He says they are working on developing a system focusing on using shortlines and producer cars which they see as a viable option for producers: “We are quite confident we will have a fully functional producer car system capable of handling large volumes in unit trains operational in time for harvet this year, in time for the post-single desk world.”

 Martin adds producers have more to think about than just delivering their grain: “You have to actually get it to the market, so that's going to require lots of coordination among all the producer car shippers and the short line railways, and a lot of coordination with the two class one railways as well.”

Martin says the goal is to see control remaining with farmers instead of with investors or railways.