Farm Women Shine in Agriculture's Safety and Leadership

Feb 28, 2024

In the heart of Canadian agriculture, farm women are making significant strides, contributing immensely to farm safety, wellness, and leadership. This International Women's Day, the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) shines a light on these vital roles through research and celebration.

A collaborative study by Farm Management Canada, supported by CASA, titled "Expanding Opportunities for Canadian Agriculture by Understanding the Experience of Farm Women," has unveiled the unique contributions and challenges of farm women. The study reveals that nearly half of the farm women are spearheading farm safety plans, highlighting their indispensable role in ensuring safety on farms.

Andrea Lear, CEO of CASA, emphasizes the critical yet often overlooked role of women in the success and safety of family farms. Recognizing these contributions not just on International Women’s Day but year-round is a priority for CASA.

To celebrate and delve deeper into these contributions, CASA is hosting an online forum, “Celebrating Women in Agriculture: Wellness, Safety and Leadership,” on March 8 at 12 pm Central Time. This event, sponsored by Syngenta Canada, will feature a panel discussion providing insights into farm women's experiences and contributions. For more information and to register, visit here.

The support from Syngenta Canada and the spotlight on this groundbreaking research aim to foster greater recognition and opportunities for women in agriculture. Christina Stroud from Syngenta Canada expresses hope that this initiative will illuminate the challenges farm women face and encourage more support and acknowledgment of their work.

As a national non-profit organization, CASA is dedicated to improving health and safety for farmers, their families, and agricultural workers, supported by the Government of Canada through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

This article brings to light the essential role of farm women in agriculture, their leadership in safety practices, and the collective efforts to acknowledge and support their contributions for a more inclusive and supportive agricultural community.

Video: How to fix a leaking pond.

Does the pond leak? Ummmm....possibly a tiny bit. Well, more than a bit...ok, the darn thing leaks like a sieve!

QUESTIONS ANSWERED: Damit is not plastic. Therefore, there are no microplastics. I wish I had not mentioned plastic, but that is a very common polymer and I mentioned it as an example of a polymer. A polymer is simply a chain of repeating molecules, or "monomers." Cellulose is a polymer of glucose molecules. Starches are also polymers of various molecules such as fructose, maltose, etc. We have many polymers inside our bodies. In other words, just knowing something is a polymer doesn't make it bad, toxic, harmful, etc. However, this also doesn't mean all polymers are safe.

The specific polymer used for Damit is a trade secret, however, it has been closely scrutinized by multiple health and safety authorities. This includes the governmental authorities of Australia, the USA, Europe, and Asia. Not only have they determined that is safe to use in earthen ponds, and not harmful to fish, but it is considered safe to use in human potable water systems in all of these areas. And of course, they know the exact makeup of the polymer when making this determination. I'm told that the same polymer is in use by many municipalities to keep potable water storage tanks leak free. I can't tell you exactly what the polymer is, because I don't know, but given the confidence with which the governmental authorities have authorized its use, I would bet it is made of a monomer that we are exposed to all the time, like fructose or something.

It also breaks down in a matter of years, and does not accumulate in the environment. The end products of breaking down are CO2, water, and base minerals like potassium. The SDS reports no need for concern with ingestion, inhalation, or contact. If in eyes, rinse with water.

End result, can I say for sure that it is 100% safe? No, I don't know exactly what it is. But given people who do know exactly what it is, and have scrutinized it, have approved it for use in human potable water systems, I'm pretty comfortable putting it in an earthen pond.