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THE
GRAIN
GAME
G
Start
STORE ITNOW, SELL IT LATER
On-farm storage plays a huge role in the
current grain market. By selling grain for
deferred delivery or on the futures mar-
ket, farmers can often capture a significant
premium over the harvest delivery price.
It can be possible that the price difference
is enough to compensate farmers for the
cost of building storage plus the cost of in-
ventory financing.
TIME INTHE SYSTEM
45DAYS
Average days spent in the trans-
port system, 2012–13 Q1 (26 in
elevator storage + 5 in railway
transit + 14 in terminal storage).
BUMPERCROP
23,000
Estimated number of grain farmers inWestern Canada.
56,900,000metric tonnes
Western Canada's crop production, 2012 crop year.
75,800,000metric tonnes
Western Canada's crop production, 2013 crop year.
33per cent
Crop increase in 2013 compared to 2012.
Grain transportation inCanada
is awhole newgame thanks to
marketing freedom. Farmers
looking tomove their grain cur-
rently facemore decisions (and,
some say,more opportunities)
than ever before. So—pick a
path and roll your dice!
FOODFOR THOUGHT
With more than 3.5 million
people living in Alber ta,
consumers can purchase
food in one of our province's
1,100-plus grocery stores.
Add in Saskatchewan and
Manitoba for another 1,450.
ONTHE ROADAGAIN
On Alberta's more than 31,000 km of highways, the most popular truck to
haul grain is a B-Train, which has two box trailers and is capable of carrying
nearly 40 tonnes. Most trucks in the United States pull “pup” trailers, com-
monly calledA-Trains, which have smaller capacity.
Spring
2014
Grains
West
24