CN strike another blow for Saskatchewan farmers

Saskatchewan farmers can’t seem to catch a break this year.

A late growing year due to poor weather led to a late harvest that some farmers are still trying to finish.

Now the CN strike is expected to make moving their product to market very difficult.

Ian Boxall farms near Tisdale. He is also the vice-president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS).

Boxall told John Gormley that CN represents 50 per cent of their means to get their grain to market.

“Prairie farmers don’t get paid unless we can get our grain to port,” Boxall said. “If 50 per cent of our grain can’t get to port, that’s a big disaster not just for producers, but for all of Canada.”

Boxall went on to say that one in eight jobs in Canada is agriculture-related, and there will be a big spinoff effect if the strike lasts long.

He also said it’s important to get the grain moving before winter.

“Shipping days lost now will not be gained back, so these days right now, leading up to winter, are the most important,” Boxall said.

He added this is one of many challenges farmers are facing this season.

“We have trade issues going on around the world — so now we’re going to jeopardize shipping the product to the countries who we do have good trade relationships with and all of a sudden this might hinder that relationship,” said Boxall.

“Something needs to be changed, and it needs to be changed long term so these transportation issues don’t happen every single year.”