Help us #KeepFarmKidsSafe

May 17, 2024

With farmers focused on getting this year's crop in the ground just a reminder to keep kids safe on the farm.

Robin Anderson, director of programs and communications with the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association says they are partnering with BASF for the first inaugurala "Kids Farm Safe Week", May 13-19.

She says it's really in response to statistics from the Canadian Agriculture Injury reporting data showing that kids, especially those under four years of age, are being killed on farms at an alarming rate, higher than any other age group under the age of 60.

"You know, kids are very fast and sometimes we don't always see where they're going. They might get into situations that they're not supposed to be in. They might be an additional rider on a piece of farm equipment, they might fall off and be run over, older kids tend to be killed in rollovers. So once again, passengers or operators of equipment that roll over and they're killed that way. Other ways that kids are being killed on the farm are through water hazards (dugouts, ponds) a drowning, and of course, animals being injured by horses and cattle."

Anderson says there are somethings producers can do like have a safe, designated play area and adequate supervision for the kids when they are outside.

She points out there are some really great guidelines that can help caregivers, families and parents determine when youth and older children are ready to start helping out on the farm.

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Video: From Conventional to Regenerative: Will Groeneveld’s Journey Back to the Land

"You realize you've got a pretty finite number of years to do this. If you ever want to try something new, you better do it."

That mindset helped Will Groeneveld take a bold turn on his Alberta grain farm. A lifelong farmer, Will had never heard of regenerative agriculture until 2018, when he attended a seminar by Kevin Elmy that shifted his worldview. What began as curiosity quickly turned into a deep exploration of how biology—not just chemistry—shapes the health of our soils, crops and ecosystems.

In this video, Will candidly reflects on his family’s farming history, how the operation evolved from a traditional mixed farm to grain-only, and how the desire to improve the land pushed him to invite livestock back into the rotation—without owning a single cow.

Today, through creative partnerships and a commitment to the five principles of regenerative agriculture, Will is reintroducing diversity, building soil health and extending living roots in the ground for as much of the year as possible. Whether it’s through intercropping, zero tillage (which he’s practiced since the 1980s) or managing forage for visiting cattle, Will’s approach is a testament to continuous learning and a willingness to challenge old norms.

Will is a participant in the Regenerative Agriculture Lab (RAL), a social innovation process bringing together producers, researchers, retailers and others to co-create a resilient regenerative agriculture system in Alberta. His story highlights both the potential and humility required to farm with nature, not against it.