Shipping rates going up for Montana wheat farmers

Montana wheat farmers, who already pay more to get their grain to market than farmers just about anywhere else, will see another rate hike for their 2010 crops, an industry group said Friday. BNSF Railway Co. Is increasing its rates beginning Aug. 1 by 2½ cents per bushel on its 110-car and 48-car trains, and by 4½ cents per bushel for smaller trains, the Montana Grain Growers Association said in an e-mail to its members on Friday. BNSF is increasing its rates systemwide, the association said. Lola Raska, head of the Montana Grain Growe r s Association, said mediation between her group and BNS...