Canadian National Railway (CN) has inked a deal to buy an Iowa railway and connect it to its U.S. rail network, the company announced Dec. 6.
Tag Archives freight

CN closes deal on Iowa railway
The agreement will link about 275 track miles to the carrier's U.S. rail network

Panama Canal drought to delay grain ships well into 2024
Wait times more than doubled between October and late November, prompting some shippers to reroute
Bulk grain shippers hauling crops from the U.S. Gulf Coast export hub to Asia are sailing longer routes and paying higher freight costs to avoid vessel congestion and record-high transit fees in the drought-hit Panama Canal, traders and analysts said.

Baltic Dry Index at 18-month high
Restrictions at the Panama Canal and congestion at Brazilian ports behind rate hike
The Baltic Dry Index (BDI), a major indicator of bulk shipping rates, has climbed sharply higher over the past few weeks to hit its highest level in 18 months.

Loss of Black Sea grain deal not seen as threat to global supplies, for now
Alternate routes exist but would be more expensive
Geneva | Reuters — The end of the Black Sea grain deal would not pose an immediate threat to the world market as Ukraine would still be able to export […] Read more

U.S. railroads, union extend strike deadline until at least Dec. 4
Teamsters warn against 'blatant attempt to cause panic'
Washington | Reuters — A group representing major railroads and a union that voted to reject a new contract said Wednesday they had agreed to extend a potential strike deadline […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Freight costs could determine grain availability
MarketsFarm — There are very good prices for feed barley and wheat in Alberta, according to Susanne Leclerc of Market Master Ltd. in Edmonton — but two factors could limit […] Read more

Spring road bans coming into effect across Prairies
MarketsFarm — Warming temperatures and melting snow across Western Canada may cause some disruptions to grain and livestock movement over the next few weeks as seasonal spring road restrictions come […] Read more

Fertilizer prices to remain high for now
MarketsFarm — There are two factors to consider when it comes to fertilizer. One is the cost as it’s to remain quite expensive at least through the first quarter of […] Read more

CFA’s Hay West program up and running
Program website now online
A revival of the “Hay West” initiative, aimed at shipping feed from Eastern Canada to supplement drought-dented supplies in the West, has gone live. The Canadian Federation of Agriculture on […] Read more

Ontario MDS volunteers already moving hay west
Disaster response group spearheading program separate from CFA plan
It’s in the spirit of co-operation in difficult times that a group of Ontario farmers have launched a hay donation program to assist their Saskatchewan counterparts. Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) […] Read more