Canadian Beef Industry Calls for End to Coutts Blockade

Canadian cattle organizations are calling for a ‘timely resolution’ to the truck blockade at the Canada-US border crossing at Coutts, AB.

In a joint statement Thursday, the Alberta Beef Producers (ABP), Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association (ACFA), and the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) said the border disruption is slowing domestic processing and creating a backlog at processing facilities, feedlots and farms and ranches. The obstruction is also blocking critical supplies of feed that are needed across Western Canada, the groups added.

“The Canadian and American beef industries are highly integrated,” the statement said. “Every day the industry is unable to move cattle, beef, or access feed puts the entire supply chain at risk. Canadian beef producers are already facing challenging supply issues from access to feed, following the devastating drought conditions in 2021, limited rail access, and trucking shortages.”

In a tweet Monday, the Canadian Meat Council said there were over 150 loads of Canadian Beef stuck at the Coutts crossing. “Our members are going to have to slow down production if this keeps up,” it said.

In solidarity with the ongoing trucker protest in downtown Ottawa, demonstrators converged on the Coutts border crossing on Saturday to similarly express their displeasure with COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other public health measures. Although some traffic has been getting through sporadically, the crowds and vehicles have largely halted cross-border commerce and travellers.

"Maintaining a stable supply chain is critical to Canadian beef production. The evolving situation at the US-Canada border and the transportation delays are resulting in major impacts for the entire beef supply chain,” said CCA President Bob Lowe.

In tweets Thursday, Alberta Agriculture Minister Nate Horner said the Coutts blockade is hurting the province’s agriculture industry but added no live animals were stuck at the border, with livestock truckers instead making use of other border crossings.