Encouraging awareness of farm safety issues and adoption of safe farm practices is a priority in Saskatchewan.
There are a number of ongoing initiatives supporting farm safety though the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. This includes funding to the Agricultural Health and Safety Network at the University of Saskatchewan, which develops and delivers farm health and safety educational materials to rural municipalities. The Agricultural Health and Safety Network is also partnering with the ministry to provide farm safety plan training.
Mental health is an important component to farm safety, and Saskatchewan offers the provincial Farm Stress Line to serve callers 24 hours a day, seven days a week at the toll-free number 1-800-667-4442. The Farm Stress Line can help by listening in a safe, non-judgmental environment, clarifying the problem and working with callers toward a solution, and connecting callers with the appropriate organization, professional or program. The line respects confidentiality and there is no call display.
The line was initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture in 1992 and is managed by SaskAgMatters Mental Health Network Inc., a Saskatchewan-based grassroots organization led by farmers and agricultural community members. SaskAgMatters also provides counselling services by registered mental health professionals with a background or training in agriculture. SaskAgMatters has enhanced its local counselling services through a partnership with the Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing to provide crisis support services from counsellors with agricultural training through the National Farmer Crisis Line.
The Saskatchewan Association of Agricultural Societies and Exhibitions receives funding for its Provincial Safety Day program, teaching students hands-on lessons about farm safety.