CASA Announces FCC Ag Safety Fund Project Recipients

Tractor and Machinery Training Initiatives Funded Across Canada

February 6, 2015, Winnipeg, Manitoba – The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA), in partnership with Farm Credit Canada, is pleased to announce that over $100,000 has been awarded to help enhance tractor and machinery training across Canada.

The FCC Ag Safety Fund has provided charitable and non-profit organizations the financial support to deliver community-based farm safety training programs since 2010. Past projects have ranged from training for Christmas tree growers in Nova Scotia to bear-human conflict awareness training in Alberta. In this, the fifth year of the FCC Ag Safety Fund, the training efforts have narrowed to focus on tractor and machinery training.

“Our commitment to helping our customers succeed starts with the basics – helping them and their families stay safe while working on the farm or agribusiness operation,” said Sophie Perreault, FCC Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “We’re pleased to partner with CASA to help make this a reality through the FCC Ag Safety Fund.”

Marcel Hacault is the Executive Director of CASA. He says that community-based training is effective and important in creating safer farming practices. “The community-based focus of the FCC Ag Safety Fund addresses farmers’ needs at the grassroots level, creating more buy-in and ownership for safer behavior” he says. “CASA recognizes the importance of community-based farm safety initiatives and continues to be committed to creating safer farming environments for all Canadian farmers.”

The recipients of the 2015-2016 FCC Ag Safety Fund include Quebec 4-H, L’union des producterus agricoles (UPA), Farm Safety Nova Scotia, PEI Federation of Agriculture, University of Manitoba, Wild Blueberry Nova Scotia, The Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, New Brunswick Young Farmers Forum Inc., Farm and Ranch Safety & Health Association (FARSHA), Manitoba 4-H Council, and Canadian Farmers with Disabilities Registry. 11 organizations will receive FCC Ag Safety Fund support in seven provinces. For a full list and description of projects funded via in 2015–2016, visit: www.casa-acsa.ca/fcc-ag-safety-fund.

FCC is a long-time supporter CASA and of farm safety initiatives. FCC has long supported CASA’s annual conference and the FCC Ag Safety Fund. Last year, FCC partnered with CASA and the Rick Hansen Foundation to launch Back to Ag, a program designed to get injured farmers back to doing what they love – farming. This year, FCC is Canadian Agricultural Safety Week’s presenting sponsor. The theme of Canadian Agricultural Safety Week 2015 is “Be the Difference!” For more information, please visit agsafetyweek.ca

The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and safety of farmers, their families and agricultural workers. CASA is funded in part by Growing Forward 2, a federal, provincial and territorial initiative and receives additional support from the agricultural and corporate sectors. For more information, visit www.casa-acsa.ca, find us on Facebook or LinkedIn or follow us on Twitter @planfarmsafety.

FCC is Canada’s leading agriculture lender, with a healthy portfolio of more than $27.3 billion and 21 consecutive years of portfolio growth. FCC is strong and stable – committed to serving the industry through all cycles, and to being socially and environmentally responsible. FCC provides financing, insurance, software, learning programs and other business services to producers, agribusinesses and agri-food operations. Employees understand agriculture and are committed to the success of customers and the industry. With FCC in the market, producers benefit, agriculture benefits, rural Canada benefits and so do all Canadians. For more information, visit www.fcc.ca. Follow Farm Credit Canada on Facebook and LinkedIn, and on Twitter @FCCagriculture.

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