Government of Canada invests in safety on Canadian farms

WINNIPEG, MB, Sept. 20, 2026 /CNW/ -- Canadian farmers work hard every day to feed our country, but farm work comes with real risks. Investing in safety training, health awareness, and practical tools helps keep farmers, their families, and farm workers safe.

Today, on behalf of the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Ben Carr, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Centre announced an investment of up to $1,071,532 over 2 years for the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) through the AgriCompetitiveness Program under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

This funding will support CASA in leading activities that promote health and safety on farms. Through safety campaigns, training, and injury prevention research, this project will help reduce risks across the country.

Creating safer working environments improves the well-being of farm families and workers, while building a stronger agriculture sector that Canadians can continue to rely on. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting initiatives that protect the health and safety of farmers and farming communities.

Quotes 

"A strong agricultural sector depends on the well-being of its workforce. This investment provides farmers, their families, and farm workers with the tools, training, and resources they need to stay safe on the job every day. Reducing on-farm risks protects lives and builds a more sustainable future for Canadian agriculture."

• The Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

"Canadian farmers are critical to our economic success and a key part of our national food security. Keeping farm families safe in support of the work they do is critical. By investing in practical safety resources, we are helping protect the people who work tirelessly to keep food on our tables. It gives producers the confidence they need to run their operations while keeping safety at the forefront."

• Ben Carr, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Centre

"At CASA, we know that meaningful progress in agricultural safety requires collaboration and sustained investment. We are incredibly grateful for the support of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, through the AgriCompetitiveness program. This funding commitment enables us to deliver programs and resources that help prevent injuries, save lives, and strengthen the safety culture across Canada's agricultural sector. Together, we are creating a Canada where no one is harmed in agriculture."

• Sandra Miller, Executive Director, Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA)

Quick Facts

• CASA is a national non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and safety of farmers, their families and agricultural workers.
• This funding will support key activities, including:
  • delivering national safety campaigns, such as Canadian Agricultural Safety Week (CASW), an annual campaign that aims to empower farmers, farm families, and farming communities to build, grow, and lead the agricultural industry in safety and sustainability.
  • working with industry partners, researchers, and governments to share safety best practices across Canada.
  • providing safety tools and events for rural youth, including safety days and Kids FarmSafe Week, an annual campaign aimed at raising awareness about the importance of farm safety for children and youth.
  • expanding the BeGrainSafe program to teach workers about the hazards of working with grain and training local firefighters in rescue techniques.
  • creating mental health resources, developing safety tools for women in agriculture, and gathering injury data to find new ways to prevent farm accidents.
• From 2006 to 2020, an average of 9 children and youth lost their lives each year due to injuries related to agriculture.
• Agriculture-related fatalities have decreased by 36%, dropping from an average of 110 deaths per year (1990–2005) to 70 deaths per year (2006–2020).
• The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) is a $3.5-billion, 5-year agreement (2023 to 2028), between the federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of the agriculture, agri‐food, and agri‐based products sector. 
• The AgriCompetitiveness Program, is a non-repayable program under the Sustainable CAP, that supports national industry-led projects to strengthen Canada's agricultural sector through knowledge sharing, leadership development, promotion of farm safety, and agricultural awareness initiatives that enhance sector capacity, competitiveness, and public trust.

Additional Links

• AgriCompetitiveness Program
• Canadian Agricultural Safety Association

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SOURCE Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Contacts For media: Jennica Klassen, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, [e-mail]; Media Relations: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, 613-773-7972, 1-866-345-7972, [e-mail]