If I may, Mr. Chairman, thank you.
The point Doug made very well, I think, is that we market our grain on the international market, not the North American market. Seventy percent of our grain goes overseas, and without the Wheat Board we simply cannot access those markets as individual farmers. The folks who market U.S. grain, of course, are margin traders, so they don't really add much value to it. We add value to ours.
Doug mentioned IP, “identify preserved”. This is a reputation we've had for 60 years because of the Canada Grain Commission and the Canadian Wheat Board. This is not something the private companies in the States want to be bothered with. So our niche market on the global grain market scale has been high-quality, identity preserved milling wheats and barleys. Without the board, we don't have that.
The other part about the board that's really critical is transportation. Doug mentioned we have to move grain over several mountain ranges. Roughly 350 railcars a year go out with Wheat Board grain, and the Wheat Board bargains with the railways on our behalf on freight rates, handling charges, and logistical questions as well. Without the Wheat Board, we have no agents acting on behalf of farmers in our interest.
And we mustn't cry too much for the railway companies. I just heard this morning that CN Rail has made an increase of 21% profits this year, and I suspect half of that's on grain. So you can imagine what their profit levels would be without the Wheat Board bargaining on our behalf.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.