Harvest is underway across Canada and the heat is as variable as the crops this year. In parts of Ontario, the third week of August was the coolest (21.2 degrees) since June, according to The Weather Network. Further east, New Brunswick has been hit with high temps. along with a mix of storms, which have… Read more »
Category: Safety
ATV safety — do you wear a helmet on the farm?
When people go trail riding or use their ATV for recreational use, wearing a helmet is something that most don’t blink an eye to. They do it with no questions asked. So why is it when we use them around the farm, we hop on the quad at the same speeds, helmet-less, without thinking twice?… Read more »
Taking risk out of climbing grain bins
It’s hard to say how many injuries occur or work hours are lost on North American farms due to falls while climbing grain bins. They don’t all get reported or talked about, but there are many anecdotal stories of people getting hurt, or narrowly escaping injury. Whether checking grain condition, opening or closing lids, or… Read more »
Numbers show power line incidents spike during seeding
There were 23 cases of farm equipment coming in contact with power lines or poles in Saskatchewan last week, according to SaskPower. At last count, there had been 67 incidents since May 1. Those numbers might seem high, but they’re not. At least relative to history. “Compared to last year, these numbers are consistent,” says… Read more »
We can thank technology for 24% of the U.S. corn crop being planted in one week
Have you ever looked across the road at the neighbour and thought, “Man, he has a lot of equipment for the acres he farms!” I think that conversation must be happening more than we think because the USDA has reported that corn planting is 71% complete in the U.S. That’s 1% ahead of the long-term… Read more »
17 tips for getting equipment unstuck
The combination of wet weather and the need to get this year’s crop in the ground is producing a predictable result this spring: pictures of stuck tractors, trucks, and sprayers, even some combines, shared on Twitter, Facebook, and in the coffee shop. While photos of these situations can provide some level of humour for others, there are… Read more »
Five ways for your tractor to burn to the ground
I don’t have my numbers in front of me, but it seems to me that the chances of encountering a “perfect storm” in agriculture are much higher than in other industries. When it rains, it pours … and then it hails. If you’re Lyndsey and you’re blessed with triplet lambs, one dies after birth, mom… Read more »
BeGrainSafe Receives $375,000 in Federal Funding
The federal government is joining industry partners, including RealAgriculture, in funding the Canadian Ag Safety Association’s new grain safety program. Coinciding with Canadian Ag Safety Week, Winnipeg MP MaryAnn Mihychuk announced $375,000 in federal support in Winnipeg on Tuesday. CASA’s BeGrainSafe program includes a mobile grain safety demonstration and training unit, as well as grain… Read more »
Entrapment Risk Elevated With Out-of-Condition Grain in the Bin
The tough harvest conditions on the prairies last fall were unforeseen when planning began for Canada’s first grain entrapment awareness and training program, but the launch of “BeGrainSafe” has turned out to be incredibly timely. “Out-of-condition grain is a major contributor to grain entrapment situations, as well as other types of injuries and illness. We know… Read more »
BeGrainSafe Sees Official Launch at Manitoba AgDays
The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) is officially launching BeGrainSafe, its new grain safety program. The official launch of the program will be at Manitoba Ag Days in Brandon this week from January 17 to 19, 2017. “Ag Days has time and again shown commitment to farm safety. This launch gives CASA the opportunity to showcase the… Read more »
Keystone Agriculture Producers to Head Up Farm Safety Initiative
Manitoba’s Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) is establishing a new farm safety program to provide practical, on-farm expertise, resources, and training to enhance on-farm safety. The program is made possible through joint federal and provincial government funding of more than $432,000 over two years. The farm safety program will offer access to agriculture industry-specific information to ensure agriculture… Read more »
The Tragic Story of Layne and Swoop – Be Grain Safe
When an accident happens people always say, “it all happened so fast.” This is very true. In an instant, precious life can turn to tragic ending. This morning I watched this FarmOn video (see below) that tells the story of Layne and Swoop. Their story about a family farm, an unloading grain truck and two… Read more »
Developing a Farm Evacuation Plan
For the majority of us on the sidelines of the Fort McMurray fire, it is impossible to understand what evacuees are going through. Many have no idea what — if anything — remains of the homes they were asked to leave immediately on Tuesday, when the entire city was put under a mandatory evacuation order. It’s one thing… Read more »
Criticism of Alberta Farm Safety Advisory Council Being Cut is Overblown
Last week when the Alberta Government released its budget, certain third party agencies and councils were relieved of their duties. Much of the focus was on the death of the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency (ALMA), but there were others put to rest. The Alberta Farm Safety Advisory Council was also cut and dismissed. What? A… Read more »
Common Sense^2 — How to Apply Lean Principles to the Farm
What do you want to improve on your farm this spring? As part of TechTour LIVE last month, Rob Hannam of Synthesis Agri-Food Network encouraged farmers to apply “lean” principles to their farm operations. As he explains in the video below, “lean” is a philosophy for reducing loss and waste from a process. There are… Read more »