A group of Saskatchewan farmers who support the current system of grain marketing by the Canadian Wheat Board rallied against the federal government's plan for changes.

The protest lasted about an hour Friday morning.

The group straddled a rail crossing, in an effort to show they want to block Stephen Harper's effort to end the board's monopoly on western wheat and barley sales.

In the lead-up to introducing the legislation, Harper said anyone opposed to the move should get on board with the plan.

The rally was held near Colonsay, Sask. Dan Kerslake/CBC"Its time for the Wheat Board and others who have been standing in the way to realize that this train is barreling down a prairie track," Harper said on Oct. 7 during a speech in Regina. "You're much better to get on it than to lie on the tracks because this is going ahead."

The protesting farmers took Harper's words to heart during their rally on rail tracks near Colonsay, about 55 kilometres southeast of Saskatoon.

Legislation to change the Wheat Board was introduced in the House of Commons Monday.

Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz, who is from Saskatchewan, has said he expects the legislation to pass by Christmas so that changes will be in effect for the 2012 crop year.

In a news release Friday, members of a group called the Canadian Wheat Board Alliance, noted that two rallies were held, the one in Colonsay and another in Alberta.

"This legislation will not put one extra dime in the pockets of western Canadian grain farmers," Bill Gehl, chairman of the alliance, said. "It will destroy the short line railways, farmer owned terminals and producer car loading facilities we have spent the past twenty years building."