An Analysis of Grain Transportation in the Northwest

Excerpts from the Preface: This study of the changing patterns of grain transportation in the Northwest is part of a broad program of research by the Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, to improve the marketing of agricultural products. There is much interest among grain producers, carriers, country and terminal elevator operators, marketing firms, and other groups as to possible changes in the various aspects of grain marketing. This study provides data for one of these aspects--transportation. It was undertaken in response to the expressed interest of the grain trade in the extent and the reasons why other modes of transport are participating in grain movements which for many years were almost exclusively handled by the railroads. This report analyzes grain transportation for the marketing years 1956-57 through 1960-61 within and from the Northwest. The States included are Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. The analysis in this report was based primarily upon data furnished by a sample of country and terminal elevators and processors located in the five Northwestern States. The data were summarized from questionnaires completed by respondents in the survey.