Basic HTML Version
“Showme the money! Showme
the money!”
When Tom Cruise portrayed sports
agent Jerry Maguire in 1996 and had this
infamous conversation with his persnick-
ety wide receiver Rod Tidwell, played by
Cuba Gooding, Jr., one thing was clear: a
desperate Maguire needed Tidwell’s busi-
ness, perhaps as much as the all-star need-
ed his agent’s. Today, things don’t seem
that far off from the comedic exchange,
except we’re farmers, not football players.
Growers are being pushed to the limit
as far as on-farm storage goes, which puts
them in conversation with the elevators
and, as anyone who’s tried to make a call
in the last few months knows, negoti-
ations are tough. Trains haven’t run at
full capacity for months due to wicked
weather and navigating through tricky
mountain passes en route to Vancouver.
In addition, crude cut into track traffic. To
nobody’s surprise, grain companies have
sat paying costly demurrage at the ports—
and we all know that ultimately it’s the
producer who pays.
Although last year’s harvest was fan-
tastic and Guinness-worthy, we must not
treat this as an anomaly. Instead, everyone
in the process—from growers to govern-
ment—needs to continue to come together
to participate in the logistical liturgy that
is necessary to solve this agricultural
debacle. As many are touting privately and
publicly, “this is the new normal” when
talking about grain volumes in Cana-
da. Our country’s value chain must be
ready for continuous highs come harvest.
Stronger, better-yielding varieties will
only hit the market faster, and cereals are
showing stronger results than ever before.
Full marks go to the federal govern-
ment, which will now be receiving more
regular public reporting, instead of
quarterly, on the grain backlog and other
important data to monitor rail service.
Industry-led collaboration spearheaded
by Pulse Canada will help to measure
rail service supply chain efficiency by
providing good data to help communicate
long-standing rail service issues. This
data is the push we need to get the federal
government to initiate change.
Collaboration between government
and other interest groups may just be the
spark that sets the forest of change on fire.
Things certainly feel warmer knowing
many groups are toiling away to ensure
competitiveness for Canadian growers and
their great grain.
As far as growers playing their power
cards when negotiating, it’s important to
remember that face time is important—
and so is involvement beyond our own
operations. There’s a reason commissions
and marketing boards get things done—
they bring farmers together to act in unity.
It’s a simple solution, but one that requires
a true test of both stamina and resolve. We
have to want to make the change. It’s too
easy to be an armchair pundit, especially
if the only one listening is the dog.
Let’s collectively push for continued
resolutions from our government, rail-
ways, elevators and ports. Perhaps by next
year’s growing season we can say with
confidence, like Tidwell to Maguire at the
end of their phone call: “Congratulations,
you’re still my agent.” Click.
Showme theMoney
EDITOR'S
MESSAGE
Farmers seek solutionson transportation
It’s too easy to be an armchair
pundit, especially if the only one
listening is the dog.
Spring
2014
Grains
West
6
PublisherS
Jeff Jackson & Lisa Skierka
ManagingEditor
Trevor Bacque:
tbacque@grainswest.com
Editorial Advisory Board
Bryan Adam
Cole Christensen
Lynn Jacobson
Jason Lenz
Greg Porozni
Amanda Ryan
Greg Stamp
Wayne Tuck
Sales&ProductionCoordinator
TommyWilson:
twilson@grainswest.com
CoPY EDITOR
Tiffany Sloan
Contributors
Government of Alberta, Kara Barnes, Stan Blade, Lynd-
sie Bourgon, Charles Burke, Caitlan Carver, Olds Col-
lege, Curtis Comeau, Jeff Davis, John Dietz, Ray Djuff,
Ian Doig, Jonathon Driedger, David Feil, Tom Fetch,
Geoff Geddes, Scott Goodwill, Peter Gredig, Gen
Handley, Lee Hart, Michael Interisano, Syeda Khurram,
Janet Krayden, Steve Larocque, Tamara Leigh,
GlenbowMuseum, Jack Payne, Electric Umbrella
Photography, Alberta Pork, Mifi Purvis, CN Rail,
Scott Rollans, Sheri Strydhorst, SarahWeigum.
GrainsWest
magazine is a joint venture owned
and operated by Alberta Barley and the
AlbertaWheat Commission.
GrainsWest
is
published four times per year by the
GrainsWest Publications Society, an
autonomous, incorporated body.
GrainsWest
is published at:
#200, 6815 – 8 Street N.E.
Calgary, AB T2E 7H7
Phone:
(403) 291-9111
Toll-free:
1-800-265-9111
Fax:
(403) 291-0190
Email:
info@grainswest.com
Web:
grainswest.com
Twitter:
@grainswest
For subscribtions email: subscriptions@grainswest.com
Omnemmovere lapidem.
Cover photo illustration by Scott Goodwill
Contents copyright 2014 by GrainsWest
Publications Society, whosemembers include Alberta Barley
and the AlbertaWheat Commission. No part of this publication
may be reproducedwithout express written permission from
GrainsWest Publications Society.
By Trevor Bacque