National Corn Growers Association urges Canada’s prime minister to resolve rail dispute

HOUSTON (ICIS)–The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) said it is urging Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resolve a dispute between his nation’s railways and the employees.

The US trade group is concerned if left unresolved, the labor issues could result in a strike interrupting rail service into the US.

The NCGA said Canada is the third-largest destination for US agricultural exports and the second-largest source of agricultural imports.

The main threat to corn growers is that a strike could interrupt shipments of fertilizer imports and exports of ethanol, corn and byproducts used as animal feed just as harvest is getting close to commencing in many of the key states.

“If a strike shuts down rail service from Canada into the US, it will adversely impact America’s farmers who rely on rail to ship goods between the two countries,” said Harold Wolle, National Corn Growers Association president.

“We encourage Prime Minister Trudeau, the Teamsters and Canadian rail workers to do everything possible to avoid such a strike.”

Both railways have issued lockout notice which would begin 22 August while the union has issued a strike notice also starting 22 August.

The NCGA noted that under federal labor law, Canadian officials can order all parties to enter binding arbitration and that it has joined other agricultural groups in sending a letter to the prime minister calling for action.

“We plan to keep calling for a resolution on this issue. 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,” Wolle said.