THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2016
VOL. 94 | NO. 3 | $4.25
GRAINS & OILSEED OUTLOOK | P7
SERVING WESTERN CANADIAN FARM FAMILIES SINCE 1923
SEE DENVER STOCK SHOW RESULTS ON P. 72
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CROPS
Farmers hear about new crop lines
FARM SAFETY
B.C. farmers say rules promote safety culture
BY BRIAN CROSS SASKATOON NEWSROOM
Alberta producers advised to brace themselves when farm safety regulations are enacted
Prairie farmers got a sneak preview last week at some of the country’s most promising new agricultural crops. They included new durum varieties with significantly higher yields, spring wheat lines with improved fusarium tolerance and new highyielding red lentils expected to outyield check varieties by as much as 10 percent. The new products, some of which have yet to be registered, were developed by plant breeders at Agriculture Canada and the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre (CDC). “Everything that’s been (highlighted) is definitely a step forward in that targeted market class,” said Agriculture Canada wheat breeder Richard Cuthbert. More than 25 new Agriculture Canada varieties were highlighted including 15 that were supported for registration last year and another 11 that will likely be supported this year. SEE NEW CROP LINES, PAGE 4
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David Janssens says he doesn’t begrudge workers compensation premiums he pays on his dairy farm near Surrey, B.C., because they protect his workers and his farm. | MARY MACARTHUR PHOTO BY MARY MACARTHUR CAMROSE BUREAU
LANGLEY, B.C. — As manager of Nicola Ranch, Matt Williams takes safety seriously. Four times a year, workers complete a full safety inspection of the farm and ranch. Each month, they attend a formalized safety meeting to discuss safety topics, such as power saw or seat belt safety. Each day, they hold “tailgate” farm safety meetings to remind
workers to inspect equipment before hopping into a tractor or to ensure ice hasn’t built up in front of a garage door. His office on the southern British Columbia ranch contains 21 farm safety binders on how to run a ranch to be compliant with WorkSafe BC regulations. However, Williams and other B.C. ranchers have had more than 30 years to get used to the stringent provincial farm safety rules. He believes Alberta farmers
and ranchers are about to get a shock when the province starts to enforce the occupational health and safety rules contained in Bill 6, the controversial farm safety legislation Alberta passed just before Christmas. “It took a tremendous amount of work and it takes a lot of work to keep this going. If the Alberta government decides to follow the B.C. model, then the farm operators in Alberta will have a lot of work to do,” Williams said. WorkSafe BC is B.C.’s Workers’
Compensation Board program, and all 5,000 of the province’s farms and ranches with employees must carry WCB coverage. This year, WCB premiums increased for ranches and dairy and horse farms. They are based on a combination of industry and individual claims, and the claims involving large animals reflect continuing injuries in the industry. Every farm and ranch starts with its own industry average. SEE B.C. FARMERS, PAGE 3
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The Western Producer is published in Saskatoon by Western Producer Publications, which is owned by GVIC Communications Corp. Publisher: Shaun Jessome Publications Mail Agreement No. 40069240
JANUARY 21, 2016 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Box 2500, Stn. Main, Saskatoon, SK. S7K 2C4