Reading Time: 4 minutes The Alberta government has suggested its farm workplace rules are going to be very similar to other provinces So what does that look like? Perhaps the best example is Manitoba, where in 2009 the NDP government extended workplace, health and safety rules to farms and made workers’ compensation compulsory. Doug Chorney was president of Keystone […] Read more
How farm safety legislation played out in Manitoba
Wolves filling up on cattle in southwestern Alberta
Cattle are the No. 1 prey of wolves where ranches and the predator’s territory overlap
Reading Time: 3 minutes If you ranch in southwestern Alberta, it might seem that the big, bad wolf is out to get you. Unfortunately, you’re right. A University of Alberta study that tracked wolves — and what they eat — found cattle made up 45 per cent of the predator’s diet during the grazing season. The study tracked wolf […] Read more
Funding available for farm safety training
Reading Time: < 1 minute Applications are now being accepted for this year’s edition of the FCC Ag Safety Fund. The fund, supported by Farm Credit Canada, helps charitable and non-profit groups deliver agricultural safety training across Canada with a focus on operating machinery in a safe manner. “Tractor and machinery safety training helps develop skills for safe operation,” said […] Read more
Alberta had a busy season for wildfires
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta’s wildland firefighters had one of their busiest wildfire seasons on record, combating more than 1,786 fires that burned 492,000 hectares. That was the third-highest number of fires in the past 25 years. The busy season saw 2,904 Albertans hired as emergency firefighters, with 1,128 additional firefighters and various aircraft brought in from Eastern and […] Read more
Big Blow-Up: Workplace legislation has farmers up in arms
Skimpy consultation and lack of answers upsets Alberta farmers, even those who say the status quo wasn’t acceptable
Reading Time: 6 minutes The NDP government said it just wanted to make farms more safe, but instead ignited a firestorm. But faced with massive outrage and demonstrations from farmers and ranchers to Bill 6, the government backtracked and apologized for what it called “miscommunication.” “Myself, MLAs, ministers, and our premier have all heard from farmers and ranchers who […] Read more
Calgary baker makes pita bread a hit with Albertans
People had ‘no idea’ what to do with pitas 40 years ago, but Byblos Bakery now makes 1.8 million a week
Reading Time: 2 minutes Calgary’s Byblos Bakery has found the sweet spot: consumer-pleasing quality, a diverse product line, efficient production, and rigorous food safety. The bakery produces 18,000 pita bread per hour, 20 hours per day, five days a week. But things were much different in 1975, when George Daklala first introduced Albertans to pita bread. “When we first […] Read more
Safety training for farm students
Reading Time: < 1 minute Syngenta Canada is partnering with Agriculture for Life to bring the Young Farm Workers Safety Day programming to Alberta youth. Safety Day targets students in Grades 9 to 12 with interactive sessions on the risks associated with rural and farm environments. It includes practical, hands-on learning on a variety of safety topics such as risk […] Read more
Program helps injured farmers get back to work
The Back to Ag Program helps fund adaptive technology for producers who have suffered a traumatic injury
Reading Time: 2 minutes Injured farmers are urged to apply to the Back to Ag Program, which provides funding to support the cost of adaptive technology to producers who have suffered a traumatic injury. “Through Back to Ag, we can help injured farmers return to farm work safely and productively,” said Glen Blahey, agricultural health and safety specialist with […] Read more
Using genomics to improve cattle
Reading Time: < 1 minute Delta Genomics is working with multiple industry groups on an initiative to make SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) panels more flexible, affordable, and less time consuming, without compromising accuracy. The panels are used to identify animal traits like feed efficiency and carcass quality. Eight partners are now using SNP technology for parentage on a regular basis, […] Read more
Sow the seeds of farm workplace safety this winter
Here’s a list of recommended courses for reducing the risk on your farm
Reading Time: 2 minutes Winter is a good time to make your farm safer. “It’s the time of year when some farmers take a step back from their hectic physical farm work and make assessments for the future,” said Kenda Lubeck, a provincial farm safety co-ordinator. Here are some courses you might consider taking: First aid: This is a […] Read more