Grainswest - Fall 2023

Fall 2023 Grains West 32 and employees and whoever else out safely first.” The AgSafe website ( agsafe.ab.ca ) is a practical resource for wildfire emergency planning information. Wacowich hopes it will spur valuable conversation on farms in at-risk areas. She emphasized preparation for such an emergency doesn’t have to look like an elementary school fire drill. “Maybe we’re sitting around a coffee table one morning,” she said. In this way, the entire farm team can comfortably contribute and improve the plan. Who is in charge in an emergency? Who has first aid training? Where should people evacuate if there is a choice? Because neighbours may have their own hands full when an entire region is threatened by fire, who can the farmer call to assist with evacuation of livestock? Sarah Linde, extension co-ordinator of Alberta Farm Animal Care, had similar advice for livestock farmers. “I think the biggest thing is having that plan, knowing how you would potentially execute it and then being able to think through the scenarios of an evacuation, a shelter in place, an evacuation without your animals where you might leave them behind and what those scenarios would look like.” Knowing where to take animals in the case of evacuation is crucial. This may be the local agricultural society, event centre or rodeo grounds. Livestock farmers also need adequate trailer space for their animals and a transportation plan. Once evacuated, they must also ensure the animals are given water and feed sources that don’t require power, which may not be available. It is also necessary to have a protocol in place in the event a farmer is forced to leave their livestock and evacuate. This should include opening gates to allow livestock to move away from the fire. Each animal should also have proper identification on them to simplify the process when it’s time to safely round them up and return them to the farm. “Write your phone number on your horse’s back or on your cows if possible and make sure you bring your paperwork with you to identify those animals,” said Linde. Such emergency planning largely relies on the judgment of each farmer. “You know your animals. You know your property,” she added. Wildfires can be unpredictable, so it’s important to have multiple contingencies in place. Linde said her organization learned from the fires that occurred in the spring. Staff identified certain gaps in the resources necessary to respond to fire outbreaks. For example, evacuation centres are set up for cattle and horses, but proper fencing is not always available for goats. “If the producers and we as an industry can be more prepared in the future, we should be able to respond better than we have,” said Linde. INSURANCE RECOMMENDED Of course, no amount of planning and preparation can stop a wildfire from encroaching upon farms in fire- prone areas. Farmers should consider purchasing a comprehensive insurance plan. “In terms of the long-term outcomes, I would say insurance is kind of a no-brainer for most people,” said Jesse Cole, manager of insurance products and product innovation at Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC). AFSC partners with the provincial and federal governments to design and deliver farm insurance products. “The amount that the federal and provincial governments are contributing makes it a pretty attractive option in terms of cost,” said Cole. With available government subsidization, farmers need to pay only about 40 per cent of the premium. Because wildfire season started early this year, Cole said there has been a slightly higher number of related claims than typical. Though farm insurance premiums will increase in future due to drought related payouts over the last three years, the relatively small amount of wildfire damage will not appreciably add to the uptick. The good news is most farmers are well covered for wildfire damage in terms of commodity loss, whether it’s through production-based insurance products or pasture insurance. “It’s a When fire swept through Clear Hills County, residents worked hard to protect farms and property in the community, which supported the hard work of firefighters. FEATURE