(PRODUCER.COM)
The Manitoba government has temporarily eased road weight restrictions on transporting grain to allow farmers the ability to get their product to market as quickly as possible.
The one-time amendment on provincial roads enables farmers to be nimble and react swiftly to changes in climatic and market conditions, while not having their product spoil by lingering in storage.
“I want last year’s bumper crop to have the best chance of getting to market so our grain farmers get paid,” said Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Minister Ron Kostyshyn. “With this flexibility on spring road restrictions, grain can move to strategic locations while the railways ramp up service levels for farmers.”
Manitoba’s grain elevators are operating at 116 percent of working capacity, up from 112 percent a week ago, and on-farm storage at Manitoba farms is overwhelmed, Kostyshyn added.
The road restrictions apply to all vehicles of 4,500 kilograms and heavier. The policy change means all grain may be transported at restricted level 1 weights (90 percent of normal axle loading) on all level 2 highways without a permit, as long as all posted weight restrictions on bridges are complied with.
