Sure Crop Issue

Grindrod's Sure Crop Feed is outside the Columbia Shuswap Regional District's jurisdiction but last week, regional directors agreed to send a letter of support for them to get some funding.  CP Rail is talking about discontinuing rail service on the short line from Armstrong through Grindrod to Sicamous.  Sure Crop may not be able to stay a viable business without access to rail cars which bring ingredients from the prairie provinces. Rural Revelstoke Director Loni Parker said if Sure Crop goes out of business it will affect the entire farming region saying and without using the railway, it will be harder on the environment and infrastructure. 

 "If you keep rail cars on the rails rather than putting trucks on the road you'll have a cleaner environment plus you'll save money on fixing up the roads when you have all those heavy trucks going."

Parker hopes CP Rail will do something to help keep Sure Crop viable as it employs about 35 people.  In a memo, Economic Development Officer Robyn Cyr [sear] said  the increased cost to deliver feed to local farmers may force local agricultural businesses to "close their doors." The letter will be sent to the Community Adjustment Fund of Western Economic Diversification to upgrade that portion of the rail line.

Sofie McGarry, Salmon Arm