CN disposes of spilled grain

Apr 11, 2023

The spilled grain became mixed with soil and other materials

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Following the derailment of a Canadian National (CN) train carrying grain in Alberta, Farms.com asked CN about the cleanup process and what happens to the spilled grain.

The derailment occurred on April 5 near Wye Road and Range Roads 213 and 214 east of Sherwood Park, Alta.

Seventeen cars derailed.

For context, one jumbo covered CN hopper car can carry up to 103 tonnes – or approximately 3,784 bushels of wheat. Or roughly 4,541 bushels of canola.

Crews work to repair the track and get the derailed cars out of the way. The CN derailment happened near RR213 and Wye Road SE of Sherwood Park. It was initially reported there and no injuries and the only spill was grain. #Yeg #CNderailment @CityNewsYEG pic.twitter.com/wvfFVCGC0f
— Rod (@rodmaldaner) April 5, 2023

CN sent investigators to the scene following the incident, said Julien Bédard, a media relations advisor with CN.

“CN’s environmental team assesses the situation and chooses the best way of action to ensure minimal impact on the receiving environment,” he told Farms.com in an email.

The environmental team’s work concluded the spilled grain got mixed with other materials.

Therefore, the grain had to be disposed of, Bédard said.

“The grain at the derailment site got mixed with ballast rock (stone material used in railroad construction), metals, soil, vegetation, other debris and moisture. It will be disposed of at a permitted landfill facility.”

Farms.com also asked if CN would cover any additional costs associated with the spilled grain.

That question went unanswered.

Video: From Conventional to Regenerative: Will Groeneveld’s Journey Back to the Land

"You realize you've got a pretty finite number of years to do this. If you ever want to try something new, you better do it."

That mindset helped Will Groeneveld take a bold turn on his Alberta grain farm. A lifelong farmer, Will had never heard of regenerative agriculture until 2018, when he attended a seminar by Kevin Elmy that shifted his worldview. What began as curiosity quickly turned into a deep exploration of how biology—not just chemistry—shapes the health of our soils, crops and ecosystems.

In this video, Will candidly reflects on his family’s farming history, how the operation evolved from a traditional mixed farm to grain-only, and how the desire to improve the land pushed him to invite livestock back into the rotation—without owning a single cow.

Today, through creative partnerships and a commitment to the five principles of regenerative agriculture, Will is reintroducing diversity, building soil health and extending living roots in the ground for as much of the year as possible. Whether it’s through intercropping, zero tillage (which he’s practiced since the 1980s) or managing forage for visiting cattle, Will’s approach is a testament to continuous learning and a willingness to challenge old norms.

Will is a participant in the Regenerative Agriculture Lab (RAL), a social innovation process bringing together producers, researchers, retailers and others to co-create a resilient regenerative agriculture system in Alberta. His story highlights both the potential and humility required to farm with nature, not against it.