Ag Safety Week encourages leading by example

Mar 09, 2017

Adults are the focus of 2017’s farm safety campaign

Stay safe farmers – Mar. 12 to 18 is officially Canadian Agricultural Safety Week (CASW). The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) use the annual campaign to spread awareness about the risks involved in farming and the importance of prioritizing safety.

This year, CASA and the CFA will focus on educating adults in the farming community, according to a Mar. 6 release. The campaign will encourage these adults to teach and instill good safety practices in their families and younger contacts.

“We are asking adults in the ag industry to demonstrate their commitment to farm safety this Ag Safety Week,” Marcel Hacault, executive director for CASA, said in the release. “That means leading by action, whether it’s creating safe play areas for children, or leading toolbox talks or creating your own farm safety plan. It’s the time to make a commitment to your farm, your family and yourself.”

In honour of the 2017 campaign, the CASW managers will supply numerous resources for those wanting to implement better safety practices on their farm.

Farmers who wish to create a general policy statement on farm safety and health can access a template to use. Once farmers complete the template, CASW organizers will supply them with the Canada FarmSafe Plan for free.

CASW Photo

"Farm safety is a vital concern for producers, whether they are just starting out or have many years of experience,” said Ron Bonnett, President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, in the release. “Continuous learning is at the core of the agriculture sector and that’s why we’re proud to be part of Canadian Agricultural Safety Week again this year. We encourage farmers to get involved so that they can access a range of farm safety tools and resources.”

Farm Credit Canada (FCC), sponsor of the CASW, believes strongly in the campaign and promoting better farm safety practices, according to Michael Hoffort, president and chief executive officer of FCC.

“Supporting safe farms by sharing information and resources helps farm families stay safe as they do the work they love. Let’s make farms safer for everyone, including children,” he said in the release.

This year, CASA and the CFA are providing a new social media feature for those wanting to participate. Members of the agricultural industry can personalize their social media account photos with an AgSafe Ribbon. Farmers are also encouraged to use the hashtag #AgSafeFamily on social media posts to spread awareness for CASW.

More information on CASW, safety resources and the social media AgSafe Ribbon is on the CASW website.

Farms.com has reached out to the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association for more details regarding the week.

Video: Will the 2025 USDA December Crop Report Be a Market Mover/Surprise?

Historically, the USDA December crop report is a non-event or another dud report as the USDA reserves any final supply changes to the final report in January of the following year in this case 2026. But after the longest U.S. government shutdown in history at 43 days and no October crop report will they provide more data/surprise and make an exception?
Our China U.S. soybean purchase tracker is now at 26.6% or a total of 3.2 mmt but for traders it’s taking too long to unfold.
The final Stats Canada production report was bearish canola and wheat projection a record crop in both (it adds to the global glut of supplies) and bullish local corn and soybean prices in Ontario/Quebec thanks to a drought. It will not help the fund flow short-term, the USDA may need to offset it?
A U.S. Fed interest rate cut of another 25-basis point next Wednesday (probability 87.1%) could help fund flow and sentiment in stock and ag commodities into year end.
More inflows into Bitcoin this past week saw prices rebound back above 90,000 with support at 82,000 and resistance at 96,000.
A V-shaped bottom in cattle suggest the lows are in after Mexico reported another new world screwworm case. Lower weights, seasonal demand and higher U.S. beef select/choice values with a continued closure of the Mexican border to cattle will result in a resumption of higher cattle futures into yearend.
Australia is expected to produce its 3rd largest wheat crop ever at 36 mmt adding to the global glut of supplies.
Reports of ASF in hogs in Spain the largest pork exporter in Europe could see the U.S. win more pork export business long-term.
If the rains verify into next week of 3-5 inches for Brazil it would go a long way to fixing the dry regions from the last 2-months, but the European weather model has been wrong for the past 2-months!
Natural gas futures are surging to the 3rd price count as frigid hold temps set in.
CDN $ is also surging to end the week on a very resilient economy and better employment numbers suggesting no interest rate cuts next week.
Finally, the CFTC report showed funds were net buyers of soybeans but sellers of corn, canola and wheat. In real time the funds have gone back to selling as they take some profits.