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Rail blockades across the country have Alberta pork and grain producers’ backs against the wall, say industry leaders.

“Our producers are very hardy and very ingenious so they are making every effort possible to withstand the situation (but) they are very close to a breaking point,” said Charlotte Shipp, industry programs manager with Alberta Pork. “It is very stressful for our farmers right now to not be able to get these inputs into their farm in a timely fashion.”

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For the past few weeks, protesters have erected barricades across rail lines in opposition to the Coastal GasLink project in British Columbia, causing disruptions to both grain and meat productions.

Shipp said pork farmers rely on rail to deliver needed supplies for their operations, such as propane and feed.

Rail lines were already backlogged following an eight-day CN Rail strike in November.

Shipp said the blockades are another hit the pork industry didn’t need.