OMAFRA Report

A weekly report prepared by the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). If you require further information, regarding this report, call the Elora Resource Centre at 519-846-0941. Office hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm.

For technical information, call the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 or visit the OMAFRA website: www.ontario.ca/omafra.

DID YOU KNOW?

Faulty electrical systems cause approximately 40 per cent of barn fires with a determined cause, making it one of the leading known causes of barn fires.

What can you do?

Regular inspections and maintenance are key to reducing the risk of a barn fire. We recommend that you work with a professional to inspect and monitor your farm buildings.

- have your buildings inspected and maintained regularly by a licensed electrical contractor;

- develop a preventative maintenance and housekeeping schedule;

- work with a professional to monitor the heat conditions of your barn using infrared technologies;

- work with your local fire department and insurance company to identify problem areas on your farm, and fix any problem areas identified;

- have a plan ready to deal with any emergency; and

- train your family and employees on what to do if there is a barn fire. Learn how to handle and what to do with livestock, make a list who to call during and after a fire, and establish a safe meeting point.

Visit ontario.ca/preventfarmfires to find helpful resources, including:

Barn fires can create unique challenges for farmers, including the disposal of large volumes of deadstock.

OMAFRA has a regulation (ontario.ca/c1zd) that gives you options for deadstock management. At ontario.ca/deadstock, you can find information on contingency deadstock planning and the regulation.

For more information contact the Agricultural Information Contact Centre (AICC) at 1-877-424-1300 or ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca.

Visit ontario.ca/farmsafety for other resources and tips for keeping a farm safe.