NCGA Calls on Canadian Officials to Head Off Rail Strike

The National Corn Growers Association today urged Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resolve a dispute between his nation's railways executives and union leaders that could result in a strike interrupting rail service into the U.S.

"If a strike shuts down rail service from Canada into the U.S., it will adversely impact America's farmers who rely on rail to ship goods between the two countries," said NCGA President Harold Wolle. "We encourage Prime Minister Trudeau, the Teamsters and Canadian rail workers to do everything possible to avoid such a strike."

Canada is the third-largest destination for U.S. agricultural exports and the second-largest source of agricultural imports. Of great concern to corn growers, a strike could interrupt shipments of fertilizer imports and exports of ethanol, corn and byproducts used as animal feed.

The Teamsters have been at an impasse with the Canadian National Railways and the National Pacific Kansas City over labor contracts. Both railways issued notice on Sunday night that they would lock out workers beginning on Thursday if a resolution with the Teamsters isn't reached.

Under federal labor law, Canadian officials can order all parties to enter binding arbitration.

On Monday, NCGA joined other agricultural groups in sending a letter to the prime minister calling for action to halt the pending strike.

"We plan to keep calling for a resolution on this issue," said Wolle. "The stakes are high and this is the last thing our farmers need as they deal with a drop in corn prices and higher input costs."