2016 Fall Seminar
AAEA and REES 2016 Fall Seminar
About the Seminar
The Alberta Agricultural Economics Association (AAEA) and the Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology (REES) had the pleasure to co-host the 2016 Fall Seminar “Games Involved in Grain Handling and Transportation in Western Canada” on November 14, 2016 at 6:00 PM. This year’s speaker was Derek Brewin, Associate Professor of Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics at the University of Manitoba.
Presentation Abstract
Distances in the Canadian grain handling system mean the supply chain is highly reliant on rail for transport. The export basis (port price minus average elevator price) for wheat in 2012/13, the first year without the Canadian Wheat Board, was around $54/t. But in 2013/14 the wheat basis increased to $133/t, a level never before seen in Canada. Given these facts, we explore the evolving behavior of firms in the Canadian grain handling supply chain. This research finds that some deregulation in rail regulations in Canada has led to overall efficiency gains, while deregulation in grain handling generated gains for grain companies at the expense of farmers and further deregulation in rail rates could generate further losses for farmers.
Speaker’s Bio
Derek received a Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University in Agricultural, Environmental and Regional Economics and has a B.Sc. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Alberta. Derek’s research has focused on the location of firms and spatial aspects of the markets for grains and oilseeds; innovation and rural development. His most recent peer reviewed articles have been on competition in the grains sector, and innovation in the canola sector. Derek was raised on a mixed irrigation farm in Purple Springs, Alberta.
Seminar Poster
View the poster for the conference poster here.
Location:
The Faculty Club
University of Alberta
11435 Saskatchewan Drive
Edmonton, AB
See map here.
Registration:
Please RSVP to Zoya at komirenk@ualberta.ca by November 7th, 2016 to take advantage of the early registration fee.
Fees:
Students: $10
Regular by Nov 7th: $15
Regular after Nov 7th: $20
Cash or cheque registration payments will be accepted at the venue.
For more information:
Please contact Catalina by email at aaea@ualberta.ca or by phone at (780) 644-1207.