Smoke from wildfires can pose a risk to farmers working outdoors this summer.

Wildfire smoke could pose health risks to Ontario farmers

Staying indoors to avoid poor weather may be an impractical request of producers

Wildfire smoke and extreme heat are exposing many Ontario farmers to health risks when working outdoors. Since June, Environment Canada has modified and updated heat and air quality alerts for Ontario almost daily, often advising people to stay indoors. Why it matters: Farmers could put their health at risk by working outdoors in adverse conditions. […] Read more

File photo of a provincial border marker in Lloydminster. (Michele Gervais/iStock/Getty Images)

Borderline city hosts interprovincial food trade pilot

Trade barrier on pause for two years for food businesses serving Lloydminster

The idea of loosening interprovincial trade in certain foods made by provincially-inspected processors will get a major test in one of Canada’s very few province-crossing municipalities. The Saskatchewan, Alberta and federal governments on Jan. 19 announced the start of a two-year pilot project within the limits of Lloydminster, a city of over 31,000 people straddling […] Read more

Grain dust might be a regular occurrence on farms, but that doesn’t mean respiratory problems should be. Take steps to protect yourself.

Protect yourself from developing respiratory problems

Grain dust may be commonplace on farms, but respiratory problems don’t need to be

It’s harvest season and that means two things are common sights on farms across the country — combines and grain dust. Just because grain dust is a regular occurrence on many farms doesn’t mean you should ignore it. In fact, grain dust can wreak significant havoc and long-lasting damage on your lungs with repeated exposure. […] Read more

tractor simulator

Getting to the bottom of bad vibrations

Researchers from the University of Saskatchewan want to minimize the negative health effects of whole-body vibrations from farm equipment

Jiggling and twisting around while operating equipment can lead to back problems for farmers. Take a Break from the Shake is a new research project at the University of Saskatchewan that looks for ways to relieve those negative health effects. “The main objective of the work is to explore and develop strategies to help agricultural […] Read more