(The Great Falls Tribune posted the following article on its website on January 13.)
GREAT FALLS, Mont. — BNSF Railway is restructuring its rail charges for wheat moving east out of Montana. The new rate structure will reduce the per-car fee by $273 for grain moving out of Wolf Point to Chicago.
“This is great news for Montana spring wheat and durum growers, particularly in light of increased competition from Canada,” said Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont.
“These reduced rates make it more cost-effective for our grain growers to move their products to the eastern hubs and mills,” Burns said. “We don’t ship a lot of product east, so I am hopeful these rate changes will open up new markets for Montana wheat and improve our ability to compete.”
Montana agriculture organizations, including Montana Grain Growers, Montana Farm Bureau, Montana Farmers Union, Montana Wheat and Barley Committee, and Women Involved in Farm Economics, have worked with BNSF to produce results for Montana agriculture, officials say.
The recent commitment by the railroad to invest millions to upgrade an existing branch line between Great Falls and Fort Benton is an example, industry folks said. Columbia Grain recently announced that it will construct a 110-car shuttle loader facility along that line.
“This is good news for eastern Montana producers, as it makes us more competitive into Midwest spring wheat and export durum markets,” said Jon Stoner, a Havre-area grain farmer and president of the Montana Grain Growers Association.