Truro, NS, February 11, 2013: The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA), the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), and exclusive corporate sponsor Farm Credit Canada (FCC) are pleased to announce a unique learning opportunity for farmers, students and other farm safety supporters.
On Wednesday, March 13, 2013, CASA, CFA, and FCC are teaming up with the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture and Farm Safety Nova Scotia to host FarmSafe Forum, a free, one-day event featuring an on-farm inspection training workshop as well as farm safety presentations from Nova Scotia producers.The event takes place in conjunction with Canadian Agricultural Safety Week (March 10 to 16, 2013).
“Many farmers have told me that they don’t know where to start when developing a safety plan. Learning how to identify hazards and to prioritze them is one of the first steps, and that is the exercise we will be featuring at the FarmSafe Forum,” says Marcel Hacault, Executive Director of CASA.
CASA is already working with over a dozen farmers in Nova Scotia as part of a field testing project to help producers implement the Canada FarmSafe Plan, CASA’s business risk-management tool that enables farmers to develop their own customized farm safety plans. Many of these producers will be taking part in the FarmSafe Forum as part of that field test, in addition to other area farmers, students, and safety supporters. Forum participants will also hear from local farmers and safety advocates on topics such as dealing with farm injuries or taking action on safety.
“By offering the FarmSafe Forum during national farm safety week we hope to encourage farmers to not only put safety plans in place, but also put it into practice on their farms,” says Dennis Boudreau, President of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture. “Hearing personal stories and experiences from farmers to farmers will encourage the process,” he adds.
“We have a lot to be proud about the agriculture industry in Nova Scotia,” says Faith Matchett, FCC Vice-President of Atlantic and Eastern Operations. “To keep this growth up, planning for safety is key, both off and on the farm. We’re committed to helping Canadian producers stay safe at work, and this year’s Canadian Ag Safety Week is a great way to raise awareness of just how important being committed to safety is.”
Canadian Agricultural Safety Week (CASW) is a public education campaign focusing on the importance of practicing safe agriculture. This year, the theme for CASW is “Get with the Plan!” and encourages farmers to develop written health and safety plans. FarmSafe Forum events are being held in conjunction with CASW in Truro, Nova Scotia and Guelph, Ontario. For more information about CASW or FarmSafe Forum events, or to access CASW media kits, go to www.agsafetyweek.ca. Media kits include press releases, feature farmer profiles, safety advice articles, psas and radio psas and graphics.
Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA), and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) deliver CASW in partnership with exclusive corporate sponsor Farm Credit Canada (FCC) and the Government of Canada through Growing Forward, a federal, provincial, territorial initiative.
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For more information contact:
Michelle French Lancaster, CASA Communications, Tel: 1-877-452-2272 E-mail: mfrenchlancaster@casa-acsa.ca
Jessica Goodfellow, CFA Director of Communications, Tel: 613-236-3633 ext. 2322 E-mail: communications@cfafca.ca
Aliya Ladha, FCC Communication Consultant, Tel: (306) 780-5635 E-mail: aliya.ladha@fcc-fac.ca
