$1.071 Million Investment for Farm Safety
The federal government will provide up to $1,071,532 over two years to CASA through the AgriCompetitiveness Program under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
The funding is intended to help CASA lead activities that promote health and safety on farms.
According to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the project will use safety campaigns, training and injury-prevention research to help reduce risks for farmers, their families and agricultural workers.
What Will the Funding Support?
The investment will cover several farm-safety initiatives across Canada.
National Farm Safety Campaigns
CASA will deliver national safety campaigns, including Canadian Agricultural Safety Week.
The annual campaign aims to empower farmers, farm families and farming communities to build, grow and lead the agricultural industry in safety and sustainability.
Safety Programs for Rural Youth
The funding will also support safety tools and events for young people in rural communities.
This includes safety days and Kids FarmSafe Week, an annual campaign designed to raise awareness among children and youth about the importance of farm safety.
Grain Safety Training
Another focus will be expanding the BeGrainSafe program.
The initiative teaches workers about hazards associated with grain handling and provides local firefighters with training in rescue techniques.
Grain-related work can involve specific safety hazards, making training and emergency preparedness an important part of the program.
Mental Health and Safety Resources
The funding will also help create mental health resources for people working in agriculture.
CASA will develop safety tools specifically for women in agriculture and collect injury data to identify new approaches to preventing farm accidents.
This means the project will cover more than physical workplace safety, with resources also addressing broader health and safety needs within agricultural communities.
Farm Safety Remains an Important Issue
The federal government says farm work comes with real risks.
According to figures included in the government's announcement, an average of nine children and youth died each year from agriculture-related injuries between 2006 and 2020.
At the same time, agriculture-related fatalities have declined.
The government reports that the average number of agriculture-related deaths fell by 36%, from 110 deaths per year between 1990 and 2005 to 70 deaths per year between 2006 and 2020.
Support Through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership
The funding comes through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a $3.5 billion five-year agreement covering 2023 to 2028.
The partnership involves Canada's federal, provincial and territorial governments and is designed to strengthen competitiveness, innovation and resilience across the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector.
The AgriCompetitiveness Program is a non-repayable program under the partnership.
It supports national industry-led projects involving knowledge sharing, leadership development, farm safety and agricultural awareness initiatives.
Canadian Agricultural Safety Association
CASA is a national non-profit organization focused on improving the health and safety of farmers, their families and agricultural workers.
Through the new funding, CASA will work with industry partners, researchers and governments to share safety practices across Canada.
The organization will also develop practical resources and programs aimed at reducing injuries and improving safety awareness.
What Happens Next?
The funding will support CASA's safety activities over the next two years.
The work will include national campaigns, youth programs, grain-safety training, mental health resources, safety tools for women in agriculture and injury data collection.
These activities are intended to help farmers and agricultural workers identify hazards, access safety information and improve safety practices across Canada's farming communities.
Bottom Line
Canada is investing up to $1.071 million over two years in farm safety through the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association.
The funding will support training, safety campaigns, injury-prevention research, youth programs, grain-safety initiatives, mental health resources and new safety tools.
The federal government says the investment is aimed at protecting farmers, their families and agricultural workers while strengthening safety across Canada's agriculture sector.