Nathan Pegg from Homestead Orchards Joined Dan Pollard for Tractor Talk to discuss farm safety, especially for children. “There are a lot of dangers to living on a farm. There are hazards that you are easy to see like big farm tractors coming in or equipment and there’s also unseen hazards you know maybe maybe a field has been sprayed with something or has just been planted you know there’s so many hazards on a farm that is just unimaginable sometimes.” Stay safe on farms and always have an emergency plan.

Canada is temporarily restricting the import of livestock, like horses and cattle, from affected areas of Texas after a case of New World screwworm was confirmed in a calf. The parasitic fly’s larvae feed on living tissue and can cause serious, sometimes fatal injuries to livestock, pets, wildlife and, in rare cases, humans. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is urging animal owners and veterinarians to watch for signs of infection, while noting that Canada’s climate is not suitable for the pest to survive long-term.

The Region is reminding drivers to be patient and cautious as farmers increasingly use public roads to move equipment between fields and transport crops during the growing and harvest seasons. Motorists may encounter slow-moving farm vehicles on rural roads and should watch for orange slow-moving vehicle signs, give equipment plenty of space, and avoid unsafe passing. Drivers are also urged to be aware that large farm machinery may take up multiple lanes, make wide turns, and require longer stopping distances, making courtesy and caution essential for everyone’s safety.