Farm Credit Canada (FCC) and the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) have announced that $100,000 will be distributed to 10 farm safety champions across the country this year through the FCC AgSafety Fund. The fund is distributed to charitable and non-profit organizations undertaking projects aimed at improving safety in and around farms and agribusiness operations within Canada. This is the second year that this fund has been available.
"FCC created the AgSafety Fund because producers told us safety was important, but they needed and wanted more training," says Rémi Lemoine, FCC Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. "Through our partnership with CASA, we can help producers effectively manage safety risks in their operations through ongoing education and training."
Marcel Hacault, Executive Director of CASA, says he is pleased with the continued quality of applications. "The ten projects selected by safety experts from across Canada are top notch," says Hacault. "We strongly feel that these projects will help make farming safer for everyone involved."
The FCC AgSafety Fund supports both provincial and national projects aimed at educating farmers and their workers in everything from safety planning, to proper health and safety-related supervision, to first aid. This year, three projects focus on agricultural safety education for teens and/or young adults who currently work or train in the industry. Another delivers agricultural health and safety information in English, Punjabi and Hindi to greenhouse, hot house and nursery workers in Surrey, B.C., where many face significant language and literacy barriers. Still another focuses on the impact of sleep deprivation on farmers and their safety and well-being.
"Agriculture is the backbone of a strong and healthy Canada, and FCC is committed to safety in the industry," says Lemoine. "This year's recipients have unique projects that will help producers - including their families and employees - stay safe on the farm. We're confident that each project will provide much needed resources to communities from coast to coast."
"In Manitoba," Hacault points out, "the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences at the University of Manitoba will train 15 trainers in the use of the Canada FarmSafe Plan. Another project in Saskatchewan will teach producers how to conduct farm safety walkabouts, while another in Quebec will teach farmers how to train employees in safe farming practices."
For a list of projects funded by the FCC AgSafety Fund 2012, visit www.casa-acsa.ca/fcc-ag-safety-fund.
Applications for the FCC Ag Safety Fund 2013 will be accepted starting September 2012.
FCC has partnered with CASA for almost two decades to help make farm operations a safe place to work and live. FCC, along with CASA, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, also sponsors Canadian Agricultural Safety Week.
