WINNIPEG - Ottawa is putting up money for a transportation study to find ways of tackling huge backlogs in grain shipments.

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz says a bumper crop last year has posed some serious challenges.

He says big crops are the -- quote -- "new normal" and Canada's economy depends on a reliable way of getting them to market.

Ritz says the federal government is providing $1.5 million to help study the problem and come up with solutions.

Gordon Bacon, CEO of Pulse Canada, says Canada's reputation as a reliable source of grain is tarnished by the backlogs and serious improvements are needed.

The backlog has left some farmers wondering what good a bumper crop is if they aren't able to get it to market.