The roadblock, which is the second stop on the Lanark Landowners Association’s "Stop the Destruction" convoy, comes on the heels of a January 21 event at Tillsonburg in southwestern Ontario that attracted approximately 1,300 vehicles. LLA President Randy Hillier told Farmers Forum activism appears to be the only way to get through to government.

"Up until Tillsonburg [Agriculture Minister] Peters hadn’t found time to meet with us, now he’s called us up and found time, so at least they’ve found their appointment books if nothing else," Hillier said.

About 270 tractors sporting signs with slogans like "mad farmer" and "landowners: the new species at risk" were stopped at the Canadian Customs office at the international bridge, effectively closing the border crossing; an apparent protest of the U.S. beef ban.

The LLA originally wanted to symbolically open the U.S. border to Canadian cattle with a giant fibreglass beef cow on loan from Ernie Smith’s Galetta sales barn. Each tractor driver had also planned to buy a six-pack of beer at the duty-free shop, in a plan to tie up customs for hours as each driver paid the duty charge. When U.S. authorities denied protestors access to the bridge Hiller changed his tune.

"We didn’t realize that the bridge was owned by the Port Authority," said Hiller. "Since the bridge isn’t owned by the Canadian public and the LLA principle is to respect property rights, we’d be pretty hypocritical if we didn’t respect their rights."

Hiller quipped that he also promised Smith he’d be careful with the $1,400 fake cow because it’s worth more than any real cow in the country.

The demonstrators, some coming from as far away as Cambridge and Cornwall, filled the parking lot of the nearby Angelo’s restaurant for a post-roadblock rally. Speakers called for solidarity between the diverse interest groups represented here as four Ontario cabinet ministers hung in effigy, swinging in the breeze.

Thick grey smoke billowed into the crowd as disgruntled tobacco farmers set a bale of their crop ablaze.

"Right now we’re burning up $2,400 worth of McGuinty’s tax money," said Hillier to the applause of onlookers. Tobacco farmers claim they get paid about $100 per bale.

The "Stop the Destruction" convoy is the latest LLA tactic in a list that includes illegal deer hunts, information pickets, government building occupations and un-inspected meat and dairy sales.