Report from the BC Federation of Agriculture Conference
The BC Federation of Agriculture met late in 1985 in Richmond BC. In attendance were two BC WI members who submitted an excellent report, summarized here.
The Honourable John Wise, Federal Minister of Agriculture, the main speaker for the event, included in his remarks, the following points: FIGURES ARE FOR 1985!
BC has the greatest range of different types of agriculture in Canada
1 in 7 Canadians make their living from agriculture or agriculture related industries
agriculture makes up 10% of our gross national product
9.7 billion dollars worth of agricultural products were exported last year and exports accounted for half of Canada's agricultural sales last year
The Minister gave an overview of the agriculture industry and some of the plans for assisting the industry in these troublesome times. He closed by saying “Agriculture is a unique industry and as such, needs special rules. Our government intends to provide a good economic climate that farmers can work within.”
For some years members of the BC Women's Institutes attended these annual meetings to lend moral support for BC farmers and to bring back information to the Women's Institutes as to how and where we could lend support to farmers across the province. I was one who represented our organization for a time at these meetings, and there was always something to learn, to take home and to consider as we make our plans for action in the future. Our thanks to the Federation of Agriculture for inviting our members to their annual meetings, and for sharing the speakers and their insights to the progress and health of the agriculture industry across British Columbia.
Also at this meeting, Mollie Ronayne of Pemberton, reported on three other matters of interest:
Farm Safety: As 1984 is the first year of compulsory coverage for farm workers under the Worker's Compensation Board, the question of farm safety was discussed in detail.
Pesticides: There were only one major and one minor claim in respect to pesticide injuries
Only suggestions came from farmers as to the content of the course.
Emergency Preparedness: suggestions made:
1. Emergency numbers should be written in LARGE PRINT and put on the wall above the phone, so a child can be instructed on making an emergency call.
2. When rescuing someone trapped in a power take-off, it is important to not be tempted to revers the power as this could make the injury worse. It sometime is possible to turn the shaft manually.
3. IF there is sufficient help to raise a tractor by inserting boards under it, a person trapped under a rolled vehicle can possibly be released or at least the pressure released by digging under the body provided the tractor is stable.
4. A make-shift stretcher was shown made from two poles or saplings inserted through the reverses sleeves pf two jackets.
5. The need for basic First Aid training including cardio-pulmonary resuscitation was stressed.
Ruth Fenner, Provincial Historian, BC Women's Institute
