Reading Time: 3 minutes As farmers, we are always at risk of on-farm accidents. But one factor puts us even more at risk — stress. Even though farmers are generally safety aware when it comes to our own farming operations, right now, in the midst of so much uncertainty, we are especially vulnerable. In a survey released by the […] Read more
Opinion: During stressful times, the risk of a farm accident goes up
The pandemic has increased our stress levels and that’s all the more reason to be safety aware
‘Common sense’ isn’t an alternative to communication
Never stop talking about dangers and safe practices, says safety-minded Alberta producer
Reading Time: 4 minutes A farm, particularly during a busy season, is at best barely controlled chaos, with vehicles, equipment, employees and even kids all competing for the same farmyard real estate. So how do you bring order to that chaos and keep everyone safe? Ask Hanneke Camps and she’ll tell you communication is the key. Although everyone talks […] Read more
Impact of smoke on crops is more than a little hazy
Field crops are impacted but the science is scarce and the subject is very complex, say experts
Reading Time: 3 minutes After watching smoke choke the skies over their fields for three years running, producers in Alberta are increasingly asking what effect it’s all having on their crops. But unfortunately, little research has been done on the phenomenon. “It is so plant and environment specific,” said Jeremy Boychyn, research extension agronomist with Alberta Barley and Alberta […] Read more
Simple steps for avoiding the nightmare of a barn fire
Annual electrical inspections, hard-wiring equipment, and good housekeeping are proven risk reducers
Reading Time: 4 minutes A barn fire can be one of the most distressing disasters on a farm — no amount of insurance can rectify the loss when livestock are killed this way. Although there are fewer barn fires today, the pure destruction factor has never been higher. Ontario had 89 barn fires from 2014 to 2018, but the […] Read more
Award honours an ‘incredible person’ and his lasting legacy
Reading Time: 3 minutes The life and legacy of a young rancher who died while fighting a wildfire is being celebrated with an award that honours his passion and stewardship. James Hargrave, a fifth-generation rancher from Walsh and a volunteer firefighter, was just 34 when he died. On Oct. 17, 2017, he was helping to fight the massive Hilda […] Read more
Get a grant to hold a Safety Day event
Reading Time: < 1 minute There’s still time to apply for funding to put on a Safety Day event this year for children in your area. Each year, communities across Canada host Safety Day events — reaching approximately 17,000 young people annually. Participants learn about the hazards and risks associated with farming and rural life. The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association […] Read more
Farmers in three provinces tapped to help reduce flood risk
A $250,000 investment will see 46 farmers establish and maintain 365 acres of wetland projects
Reading Time: 3 minutes New funding for an innovative conservation program could help reduce flood risk in Alberta’s largest city. The charitable arm of Intact Financial Corporation — the country’s largest provider of property and casualty insurance — is giving nearly $250,000 in funding for ALUS Canada to develop natural infrastructure projects in four communities across Canada, including two […] Read more
Safety is getting its turn in the spotlight
With new workplace regs in effect, there’s a lineup of producers wanting to make their farms safer
Reading Time: 4 minutes After a bit of a slow start, farmers are increasingly turning to AgSafe Alberta for help in reducing the risk of an accident on their operation. “It’s actually really busy — it’s gone from being very quiet to a wave,” said Jody Wacowich, the executive director of the non-profit society created by farm groups in […] Read more
Canadian farms are getting safer — but not fast enough
Safer machinery is saving lives, but farms remain dangerous places to work, says expert
Reading Time: 4 minutes Farms across Canada are becoming safer, but danger still abounds. “We are seeing fewer entanglement injuries and fewer deaths from rollovers — that’s where the big gains are on the technology and engineering side,” said Don Voaklander, director of the University of Alberta’s Injury Prevention Centre. “The other stuff is kind of the same. Falls […] Read more
Farmer-led AgSafe program helps producers tackle farm safety issues
Farm Safety Week: The program is free, designed to be practical, and can be tailored for individual farms
Reading Time: 4 minutes Better farm safety can start with small steps. Even a simple act like hanging a sign can play an important role in preventing a disaster. “We have these lockout tags that say ‘Lockout. DO NOT OPERATE,’” said Donna Trottier, extension co-ordinator of the AgSafe Alberta program. “There was an incident a farmer told me about. […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
