It’s hot and it’s excessively dry. Every year we seem to have this conversation about fire safety at harvest, but I think this year especially, it’s crucial that we are having the discussion. I am no expert at this topic, however, a recent grass fire half a mile from my house — that got lucky… Read More
BASF Canada is launching its BASF Safety Scouts program as a fun and interactive way to support family farm safety. Through the new program, participants will receive a free safety vest and toolkit, and can take on the role of an official Safety Scout. The program is part of BASF’s partnership with the Canadian Agricultural… Read More
The effects of COVID-19 on agriculture were surprising, and some sectors of the industry were affected more than others — grain and oilseed operations fared much better than say, intensive horticulture crops, in terms of labour. For this RealAg LIVE! host Kara Oosterhuis is joined by Debra Hauer of the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council… Read More
The Ontario government is providing $10 million to allow more farmers and agri-food operators to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE), enhance cleaning and disinfection measures, and redesign workstations to better protect workers. Under the new Enhanced Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program (EAWPP), farms and agri-food businesses that hire three or more employees will be eligible for… Read More
HALO Air Ambulance presented its business case for its funding model to Cypress County Council recently, and the result is partnership and a major investment through a shared funding model into the air ambulance program. “Our goal has always been securing ongoing operational funding in partnership with local municipalities and the government of Alberta,” says… Read More
Farm safety — whether it’s a grain farm, a livestock operation, a combination of the two, or any other type of ag-related operation — deserves the time to develop a safety plan. Robert Gobeil, ag health and safety expert with CASA, joins guest host Lyndsey Smith for today’s RealAg LIVE! RealAg LIVE! streams every weekday at… Read More
Rural crime is unfortunately one of those topics that more of us have been impacted by than not. Whether it be through a neighbour, your own farm, or a friend across the country, rural crime happens. Farm specific crime, such as stolen fuel or grain or rustled animals, often ticks up when commodity prices rise…. Read More
Chances are, if you live in a rural setting, you’ve either impacted by rural crime either directly or indirectly. We have commodities in the bin or on the ground, and where the market is currently sitting, they are likely of high value. On January 30, Pincher Creek RCMP responded to a complaint of mischief at… Read More
The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) has named Andrea Lear as chief executive officer, following the retirement of Marcel Hacault, who served as executive director since 2004. Lear has worked with Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association as executive director, and has years of experience in financial services. She holds a Bachelor of Science in agriculture from… Read More
If you were going to build a new dairy barn, would you choose a parlour or robots? What about Jerseys vs. Holsteins? Ethan Wallace, of Seaforth, Ont., switched to robots for milking his Jersey herd seven years ago, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. On this edition of RealAg LIVE!, Wallace joins occasional… Read More
Nothing good happens after midnight, or when corn is left out in the field. Some farmers are learning that DON levels in corn can really spike if the crop has been left out to let that gibberella grow. In this week’s Wheat Pete’s Word, host Peter Johnson has that caution, plus a discussion on being… Read More
The federal government has stepped in to top up provincial funding for workplace health and safety measures on-farm in Ontario. Agriculture and Agri-Food minister Marie-Claude Bibeau previously announced $35 million for a federally-administered program, and this week, announced $11.6 million for the Ontario version — the Enhanced Agri-food Workplace Protection Program (EAWPP). Originally announced in… Read More
Being thoroughly trained to operate a truck and trailer is incredibly important. It’s been a little over two years since the fatal Humboldt Broncos bus crash with a truck and trailer unit which claimed 16 lives, injured 13, and spurred an inquiry into how truck drivers are trained and licensed. The accident, and others like… Read More
Harvest season is upon us, and with hot, dry conditions comes the concern for equipment fires in the field. Are you prepared in case of an emergency? The first line of defence is to clean equipment of caked-on oil, grease, and crop residues and by regularly removing excess residues or plant materials wrapped around bearings… Read More
Starting this month, the Farm Freedom and Safety Act (FFSA) has come into effect. Put in place by the Alberta Government, the Act — known as Bill 26 — is a replacement of Bill 6, introduced by the previous NDP government. In it, there’s changes to current employment, workers compensation coverage (WCB), and occupational health… Read More