APAS tells railways to prepare for large crop

Saskatchewan crop conditions are leading to more crops

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

The President of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan is telling railway companies and the grain industries to be prepared for an extra-large crop.

“We may be only 30 to 60 days from harvesting a significantly larger than normal crop,” said Norm Hall.

Favourable crop conditions in much of the province and across the rest of Western Canada increases the potential for a “larger than average” crop.

According to the latest Crop Report, “99 per cent of the fall cereals, 96 per cent of the pulse crops, 95 per cent of the spring cereals and 94 per cent of the oilseeds are at or ahead of their normal stage of development for this time last year.”

Hall said producers want to be confident that railways have protocols in place to mobilize staff and equipment; and that grain companies are equipped with sales programs to handle larger volumes of crops.

Hall said the crop volume in 2013-14 caught railways off guard, leading to a loss of profits.

“This led to a logistical nightmare for Prairie producers,” he said. “One that cost them $1.5 billion dollars in lost revenues. We need to get it right this year.”