$125,000 investment in eight regional and two national projects in 2013
April 11, 2013, Winnipeg, Manitoba – Farm Credit Canada (FCC) in partnership with the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) is awarding $125,000 for 10 farm safety training projects across the country this year through the FCC AgSafety Fund.
The funding is offered to charitable and non-profit organizations planning projects that provide safety training to producers within Canada. In its third year, the FCC AgSafety Fund is providing financial support to a wide range of projects including delivery of a series of farm safety webinars, a general safety tips calendar, a safe work practices handbook with accompanying video for the turkey industry, and promotion of CASA’s FarmSafe program to farmers in Saskatchewan and Quebec.
“Agriculture is the backbone of a strong and healthy Canada, and FCC is committed to safety in the industry. FCC created the AgSafety Fund because producers told us that while safety was important to them, they needed and wanted more training,” says Rémi Lemoine, FCC Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “Through our partnership with CASA, we are proud to be helping producers effectively manage safety risks in their operations through ongoing education and training. We’re confident that each of this year’s funded projects will provide much needed resources to communities from coast to coast.”
Marcel Hacault, Executive Director of CASA, says he is pleased with the range of projects that will receive funding this year. “I’m confident the 10 projects will raise ag safety awareness and upgrade skills to manage on-farm safety risks across the country,” says Hacault. “Our partnership with FCC allows us to fund community-based projects to help make farmers and farms safer.”
This year’s fund will provide: $25,000 to Farm Management Canada to develop a bilingual AgriWebinar series focusing on farm safety as business risk management, and $25,000 to the Manitoba Pork Council to develop and deliver DVDs and videos demonstrating safe pig handling techniques.
Approximately $10,000 each will be given to seven different projects including safety training for Christmas tree growers in Nova Scotia, on-farm workers in Ontario’s turkey barns, students in rural and remote Alberta schools, English and French farmers in Quebec, forklift operators in Prince Edward Island and farm families throughout Saskatchewan. Another $5,000 will help support a series of ATV and tractor safety workshops for farm youth and adults in Manitoba.
For a detailed list of new projects funded by the FCC AgSafety Fund, visit https://casa-acsa.ca/fcc-agsafety-fund-2013-2014. Applications for the FCC AgSafety Fund will be accepted again starting in September 2013.
FCC has partnered with CASA for almost two decades to help make farm operations a safe place to work and live. In 2013, FCC is the exclusive corporate sponsor of Canadian Agricultural Safety Week delivered with CASA, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and the Government of Canada through Growing Forward, a federal, provincial and territorial initiative.
The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) is a national, non-profit organization promoting farm safety in the agricultural sector. CASA’s vision is a country where no one is hurt farming and CASA is working with partners in government, business, and farming organizations across the country to support initiatives that equip producers, their families and their workers with the information and tools needed to make farms a safe place to live, work and play. CASA is funded primarily through Growing Forward, a federal, provincial and territorial initiative. Connect with CASA at www.casa-acsa.ca through Facebook, YouTube or Twitter @planfarmsafety.
As Canada’s leading agriculture lender, FCC is advancing the business of agriculture. With a healthy portfolio of more than $25 billion and 20 consecutive years of portfolio growth, FCC is strong and stable – committed to serving the industry through all cycles. FCC provides financing, insurance, software, learning programs and other business services to producers, agribusinesses and agri-food operations. FCC is socially and environmentally responsible. Corporate social responsibility activities are focused in five areas: agriculture and food, customers, community, employees and the environment. The FCC AgSafety Fund is one way FCC fosters strong and vibrant communities where its customers and employees live and work. For more information, visit www.fcc.ca. Follow FCC on Twitter @FCCagriculture.
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For more information and interview opportunities, contact:
Michelle French Lancaster
Communications
CASA/ACSA
1-877-452-2272
mfrenchlancaster@casa-acsa.ca
Shaun Humphries
Corporate Communication
Farm Credit Canada
1-306-780-6987
shaun.humphries@fcc.ca
Cécile Kayijuka (bilingual)
Corporate Communication
Farm Credit Canada
1-306-780-5046
cecile.kayijuka@fac-fcc.ca
