Under the Canada Grain Act, grain producers are entitled to order producer railway cars through the Canadian Grain Commission. Producers can ship these cars directly to a particular destination, as an alternative to marketing their grain through the more traditional licensed primary elevator system. Producers have the option to self-administer their cars, or use a third party administrator to do so on their behalf.
The Canadian Grain Commission is responsible for allocating producer cars. The railways (CP, CN, and regional shortlines like BTR) are responsible for car supply and providing rail service to producer loading locations.
BTR’s Role in Producer Car Shipping
We want to ensure the best experience possible for our customers, so we take a very active role in the producer car shipping process, and are directly involved in;
- providing rail service to producer car loading locations on;
- BTR track – at Binney, Manitou and Darlingford stations
- CPR track – at Morden, Winkler and Plum Coulee stations
- educating local producers on the process of shipping by producer car
- managing a Harvest Sample Grading Program for local producers
- facilitating connections between local producers and third party administrators
- distributing grain bids and related information from administrators to local producers
- assisting producers and administrators with car ordering through the CGC
- tracking car allocations and car supply issues with the CGC and CP
- collecting and shipping carloading samples for grading
- providing grain sample bags and rail car seals as required
- relaying car billing information from producers to their respective administrators
Producer Car Administrators
Producer car administrators include a variety of grain companies from both Canada and the United States, each with their own unique marketing strategies and supply chains logistics. BTR originated shipments have gone to as many as 8 different administrators in any given year, depending on conditions in the marketplace, grain quality profiles, car supply issues, and a variety of other factors. Please contact our office for a current list of active administrators.
Key administrators in our region over the last several years have included:
- The Andersons – Alex Reed
- ADM – Reed Maybee, Brian Harland
- Prograin – Chantal Martin
Car Loading Options
Producers have the option of auger loading themselves or choosing one of the four different producer-owned transloading facilities that operate at locations along BTR track. Each of these facilities offer temporary grain storage and transloading services to local producers, as an alternative to auger loading their own cars.
Binney Loading Group Facility (Binney)
The Binney Loading Group Facility is owned by a local group of producers, and is located at the western end of BTR track at Binney.
- drive over truck unload pit
- grain leg and four 4,000bu hopper bottom bins (expandable)
- rail spot capacity of 11 cars
Byway Farms elevator (Manitou)
This former Manitoba Pool elevator is owned by Byway Farms and is located on the main siding in Manitou.
- drive through truck scale and pit
- grain leg and 250,000bu of segregated storage
- cleaning and drying capabilities
- rail spot capacity of up to 25 cars
St. Isidore’s Station (Manitou)
This facility is located on the eastern end of the main siding in Manitou, and is owned by two local producers.
- drive over truck unload pit
- 16 inch grain pump loop
four 8,000bu hopper bottom bins and one 4,000bu overhead hopper - rail spot capacity for up to 10 cars
- car unload capabilities as well
- scaling is available
Boundary Loading Group Facility (Darlingford)
This facility is owned by a local group of producers, and is located on the siding in Darlingford.
- Six 4000 bu hopper bottom bins and one 8000 bu hopper
- drive over axle scale
- drive over truck unload pit and grain leg
- rail spot capacity of up to 12 cars
