WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – As 50,000 port workers in the U.S. go on strike, Kansas farmers are concerned.
The longshoremen striking in the east and Gulf Coast ports want more pay and are fighting automation. If the strike lasts more than a few weeks, farmers warn it could have major impacts on supplies and sales in the agricultural industry.
Steven McCloud, a farmer in Harvey County, says if this strike goes on, it could impact many parts of his operation.
He’s expecting his livestock exports to be affected primarily. Because meat has to be chilled or frozen, he says it’s usually shipped by containers.
Many containers are now stuck at ports without longshoremen to load and unload them.
“I think you will start to see, even in a couple weeks, you will start to see impacts to livestock prices,” McCloud said.
McCloud says fertilizers and chemicals are shipped through the Gulf. The strike could hinder his access to those supplies. He also says parts for farm equipment are often shipped in from the East Coast.
Other farmers tell me grain prices are already low compared to the past few years. They’ve also been dealing with the ongoing drought.
McCloud hopes union workers and major shipping lines can settle on an agreement soon. The shorter the strike, the less potential for disruption.
