Reading Time: < 1 minute Entanglements are one of the top hazards on a farm, and augers are often involved. If an auger is new or new to you, or hasn’t been used in a few months, review the owner’s manual (which many manufacturers have online). Before starting the auger, check that all guards are secured in place and check […] Read more
Tips for safely operating grain augers
Don’t take chances when removing duals
Reading Time: < 1 minute While duals are useful to improve traction and reduce soil compaction, removing them when not needed reduces tire wear and enhances manoeuvrability. But removing duals can be hazardous and people have been crushed by falling wheels or suffered strains and sprains. Read more: Ribbons to promote ag safety Removing duals is a two-person job and […] Read more
Ribbons to promote ag safety
An Alberta idea is going national this winter to encourage farmers to think safety
Reading Time: < 1 minute An Alberta farm safety campaign is getting a second life by going national. AgSafe lapel ribbons premiered in Alberta in 2012 to raise awareness about farm safety in the province, said Kenda Lubeck who is a farm safety co-ordinator for Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “We wanted a visual that would encourage discussions for every- body […] Read more
Business help just a phone call away
Reading Time: < 1 minute If you’re thinking of a new farm business or expanding an existing one, there’s a new-venture specialist willing to help. “New-venture coaches do their best to help you get your business to-do list into reality, to get a new income stream planned for the farm into a sustainable business, or even just support a startup […] Read more
Do you have an emergency response plan?
Reading Time: < 1 minute Every farm should have an emergency response plan, says an Alberta Agriculture farm safety specialist. That plan needs to include “procedures, training and exercises based on individual farming and ranching needs,” said Blair Takahashi. A chain of command should also be established to minimize confusion and alternate means of communicating. Practice drills will not only […] Read more
EU chemical agency says glyphosate not carcinogenic
Helsinki | Reuters — Glyphosate, the key ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide, should not be classified as a substance causing cancer, the European Chemical Agency concluded on Wednesday, potentially paving the way for its licence renewal in the EU. A transatlantic row over possible risks to human health has prompted investigations by congressional committees in […] Read more
U.S. ag secretary nominee submits ethics disclosures
Reuters — U.S. President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the U.S. Agriculture Department said in Senate ethics disclosure forms that he would place his assets, which include part ownership of a grain merchandising company, into a blind trust. Republican Sonny Perdue was tapped to head the department the day before Trump’s inauguration. Progress on his […] Read more
Farmers urged to make a commitment to safety
Farm Safety Week: The first step is to have a conversation about what safety means on your operation
Reading Time: 2 minutes The theme of Canadian Agricultural Safety Week from March 12 to 18 is ‘Be an AgSafe Family.’ This article by the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association talks about the impact of a farm fatality on a family and the farm. Statistics tell us that each year approximately 85 Canadians are killed in an agriculture-related incident. Run-overs, […] Read more
Why every business should have a story
Workshops to be held in Stony Plain, March 16 and Airdrie, April 19
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Agriculture is hosting hands-on workshops called ‘Marketing Essentials: Telling Your Story’ to give participants strategies to drive sales, develop a unique brand and build customer loyalty. “Today’s business leaders use storytelling to engage staff and connect to their customers and suppliers,” said Cindy Cuthbert, a project co-ordinator with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “Interesting stories […] Read more
Caterpillar says compliant with tax laws after IRS claim
Reuters — Caterpillar Inc. said Friday it was compliant with tax laws, a week after federal law enforcement officials raided three of the company’s buildings in connection with a probe into the heavy machinery manufacturer’s offshore tax practices. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has challenged the company’s taxes for the years 2007-2012, the company said […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
