The Agricultural Health and Safety Network (the Network) is unique in
North America. This extension program, aimed at preventing occupational
illness and disability in Saskatchewan farmers, is funded and directed by rural
municipal councils on behalf of their farming ratepayers. The Network was
established in 1988 as a joint initiative between the Centre for Agricultural
Medicine and the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities.
Membership in the Network is voluntary and subject to an annual fee. Growth
in membership has been sustained during the last 10 years in spite of the
challenges of a strained economic environment in the agricultural sector and
increasing pressure on the tax dollars available to rural municipalities. The
original membership has grown from 1,000 farm families to over 21,500 farm
families, approximately 38% of the farms in Saskatchewan.
The evolution of the Network has been a study in co-operation,
imagination and determination. The challenge of developing and delivering
targeted and effective prevention programs to groups of farmers in a widely
dispersed geographical area remains. Models for successful program delivery at
or near the farm gate have been developed, evaluated and standardized by
Centre health processionals. The current rapid alteration of the rural landscape
provides new challenges and opportunities as the Network moves into its
second decade. The vision of an industry driven and self-supporting workplace
health and safety program for farmers remains.