Farmers across the country are the collateral damage in the blockades.   Ottawa—While it's too early to put a price tag on the damage more than a week of rail blockades across Canada have inflicted on the country's farmers, it will be felt for years, says Mary Robinson, President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. “Farmers are frustrated with continually dealing with obstacles that are beyond our control,” she told a Feb. 25 news conference during the CFA's 2020 annual general meeting. “These blockades are having consequences that will reverberate for years to come. If they continue, the damage to Canada's reputation and Agri-Food industry will be severe. “We need decisive actions and leadership on this file. Canadian farmers and our trading partners around the world need to know that the railway system is reliable and consistent, that a small group cannot freeze our entire transportation network. “This situation is real, and we need it to be fixed immediately. … Farmers need to get on with what we do best,” she said. “But we cannot do that when we are struggling to survive, and when our entire industry is held hostage as collateral for an issue we have nothing to do with.” Even as she spoke to reporters, there were reports of new blockades and new certainty CN and VIA traffic between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal would resume following the removal of a blockade near Belleville. “The kind of stress this puts on farmers and their communities is difficult to convey,” Robinson said. “This is the second major interruption in rail service alone in the past few months. Both of these interruptions have nothing to do with Canadian Agriculture, and yet we continue to pay the price. “The uncertainty and complete lack of control farmers continually face creates an overwhelming amount of stress, further negatively contributing to an already alarming mental health situation in the agriculture community. We cannot continue to have our livelihoods held hostage every time a group wants to put pressure on government.” The theme of the CFA meeting was supposed to be 'Producing Prosperity for the next decade.' It is difficult to focus on the potential of the future when our current set of circumstances is so grim. Canada's reputation a reliable supplier is taking a beating around the world, she warned. “These interruptions greatly affect Canada's ability to be a reliable and trusted trading partner. If countries cannot rely on Canada to honour their agreements, they will soon seek out other, more consistent trading partners. “I have received phone calls from apple farmers as their washed, graded and packed, ready for market apples, sit in rail cars, slowly rotting. Purchasers are already telling them that they will be forced to source apples elsewhere if these farmers are unable to fulfill delivery.” Ships waiting on the West Coast to transport Canadian farm and food products charge demurrage for every day they wait for their cargo to arrive, she said. “We have seen estimates that these fees, along with capacity loss, contract penalties and deferred sales, are costing $63 million a week. These extra costs will not be paid by the ports, or the rail companies, or the protesters. These costs will come directly out of farmers' pockets, at a cash crunch time when we need to prepare and invest for the coming crop year. At this point, I can already tell you this coming year will be extremely difficult for Canadian farmers.” Alex Binkley is a freelance journalist and writes for domestic and international publications about agriculture, food and transportation issues. He's also the author of two science fiction novels with more in the works.