Train speeding pastA shutdown of the Canadian freight railway feels inevitable as the Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City unions have made no progress in labor negotiations. While the strike would directly involve 10,000 Canadian employees, the trickle-down effects would also be felt by the U.S. economy and ag industry.

In a joint letter to the U.S. and Canadian governments, a group of nearly 36 North American agricultural groups expressed their concerns over the shutdown’s impact.

“The impact of a strike would be particularly severe on bulk commodity exporters in both Canada and the United States as trucking is not a viable option for many agricultural shippers,” the letter said, citing large volumes and vast distances.

U.S. spring wheat would be impacted the most, particularly from Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, according to National Grain and Feed chief economist Max Fisher. Canada is currently the world’s largest canola exporter and third-largest wheat exporter..

Read more on the potential Canadian railway strike.