EDMONTON, Alta. — Thirteen Alberta farmers were jailed yesterday, for illegally hauling their own grain across the U.S. border several years ago.

The farmers face jail terms ranging from less than a month to more than a year for violating the Customs Act.

They were protesting the fact Eastern Canadian farmers can market their own wheat while farmers in the Prairie Provinces must sell it through the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB). At the time of the infractions, wheat was selling for $8.50 a bushel in the U.S. while the CWB was paying $3.50.

Alberta Premier Ralph Klein was on hand to support the farmers, saying “When hard-working Alberta farmers are willing to take the extreme measure of going to jail for the sake of fundamental freedoms that other businesses take for granted, there is something wrong with the laws of the land.”