Manitoba farmers concerned about effects of St. Lawrence Seaway strike

Oct 25, 2023

Manitoba farmers are contending with growing concerns following a strike at the St. Lawrence Seaway, leaving the trade route closed since the weekend.

The seaway sees 11 million metric tons of grain shipped from the Prairie region every year. With about 360 union workers now off the job, local farmers are left worrying about the fate of their harvest.

Brenna Mahoney, general manager of Keystone Agricultural Producers, said farmers depend on selling their products in a timely manner. She said 40 per cent of all cargo on the seaway is grain-related products, a majority of which comes from Western Canada. She further noted that Manitoba farmers rely on exports of their grain, and the seaway plays a critical role in getting that done.

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Video: How women saved agricultural economics and other ideas for why diversity matters | Jill J. McCluskey

Dr. Jill J. McCluskey, Regents Professor at Washington State University and Director of the School of Economic Science

Dr. McCluskey documents that women entered agricultural economics in significant numbers starting in the 1980s, and their ranks have increased over time. She argues that women have increased the relevance in the field of agricultural economics through their diverse interests, perspectives, and experiences. In their research, women have expanded the field's treatment of non-traditional topics such as food safety and nutrition and environmental and natural resource economics. In this sense, women saved the Agricultural Economics profession from a future as a specialty narrowly focused on agricultural production and markets. McCluskey will go on to discuss some of her own story and how it has shaped some of her thinking and research. She will present her research on dual-career couples in academia, promotional achievement of women in both Economics and Agricultural Economics, and work-life support programs.

The Daryl F. Kraft Lecture is arranged by the Department of Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics, with the support of the Solomon Sinclair Farm Management Institute, and in cooperation with the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences.