Canada Rail Strike Prompts Potash Mine Shutdown

Nutrien Ag Solutions says it will be forced to curtail production at its largest potash mine in Canada due to the CN Rail strike. Employees were sent notices this week, indicating the mine will be shut down for two weeks starting on December 2. The company says, "It is extremely disappointing that in a year when the agricultural sector has been severely impacted by poor weather and trade disputes, the CN strike will add further hardship to the Canadian agriculture industry.”  The shutdown will continue despite the fact workers and CN Rail reached an agreement Tuesday. Nutrien is the world's largest provider of crop inputs and services, producing and distributing 27 million metric tons of potash, nitrogen and phosphate products worldwide. More than 3,000 CN rail employees are on strike, impacting agricultural shipments of grains, fertilizers and even propane for grain drying. A Fertilizer Canada official says an estimated $200 million to $300 million worth of fertilizer shipments will be impacted by the strike.