Sask. farmers face uncertain seeding season amid grain backlog
Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay commented on the backlog Monday, describing it as “an ongoing and unfortunate issue.”
He said he was limited in what he could do about the problem while Bill C-49 continues to be delayed in the Senate. The bill would allow for fines against the railways for failing to deliver rail cars on time.
Todd Lewis, president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, said he agreed with MacAulay that there was little the federal government could do until the bill clear the Senate, where it has sat since last fall.
In the meantime, he said many of the province’s farmers are stuck waiting to get paid for bins full of grain even as they plan for spring seeding.