Farmscape for March 13, 2006  (Episode 2085)

Manitoba's Minister of Agriculture Food and Rural Initiatives is urging farm families to take advantage of a number of new resources aimed at reducing the risk of accidental injury and death on the farm.

In observance of Agriculture Safety and Health Week, which concludes tomorrow, Manitoba Agriculture Food and Rural Initiatives and Manitoba Labor and Immigration have unveiled details of three new resources designed to help farm families reduce the risk of farm accidents.

"Safe Choices" is a print resource designed to help decision makers identify and reduce safety risks.

"Farm Family Walkabout" guides farm families with young children on a walk around the farm to identify and reduce the hazards children may encounter day to day.

And a "Safe Tractor Operators Course for Teens" will help enhance their understanding of the factors which influence the safe operation of a tractor.

Agriculture Minister Rosann Wowchuk encourages people to take advantage of the resources that are available and to take the time to see where the hazards are and the steps that can minimize those hazards.

Clip-Rosann Wowchuk-Manitoba Agriculture Minister 

We always know the accidents that do occur and those are terrible statistics but you don't know how many accidents have been prevented.

I'm hopeful that by families taking the time to do a walkabout around the farm that they will be aware of the situation.

I'm hopeful that, by having tractor training courses for young people, an accident can be prevented.

As with Safe Choices, by using the workbook resources, by providing this information.

I think that these are very good tools that can be used in Ag in the Classroom where you put this extra information out.

It's like learning to drive a car.

If you take driving lessons, do you prevent an accident?

You don't know for sure but, by having extra knowledge, I'm sure that it has an impact.

All three new programs will be in place by late spring.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

       *Farmscape is a presentation of Sask Pork and Manitoba Pork Council