The impact of weather on the end-to-end grain supply chain can take many forms, whether it’s rainfall preventing vessel loading, extreme cold restricting train lengths, or persistent wet weather delaying harvesting and impacting crop quality. Railroading and farming are both impacted by the weather.

From early snowfall impacting the harvest season to the record breaking low temperatures experienced in the Prairies in early February (discussed in this recent article from Western Producer), this winter has presented its weather challenges at every point in the supply chain, effecting farmers, grain companies, country elevators, railroads, port operators, and vessel crews. Through continued collaboration, teamwork, and mutual understanding, we have all managed to keep the grain supply chain moving and despite weather-related challenges facing this crop year to-date, CN has delivered a record pace of grain movement out of western Canada.