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Back To Ag Accepting New Applications
In March 2015, PEI farmer Mark Verleun was involved in a head-on collision. As a result, Mark experienced severe trauma to his leg and knee, impacting his ability to safely and successfully handle the cattle on his farm. That’s where Back to Ag came in.
“Our old handling system required loading and unloading cattle to bring them to the fixed-in-place head gate. Then we would be required to step in with the cattle to coax them into an alleyway and head gate. We’ve had many close calls with kicks and steers backing out of the alleyway instead of moving forward. With my injured knee, another kick or further injury would be devastating. The new portable tub and chute allows us to bring the handling system to the cattle, eliminating the need to load and unload the cattle. The crowd tub eliminates the need to step in with the cattle; we can ‘crowd’ them into the chute from the outside & pushing in on the crowd gate. Once in the chute, the cattle can’t turn around, and their ability to back up is greatly reduced. The system encourages only forward motion. The handling system reduces the stress on the cattle and me!
The Back to Ag funding for our portable tub & chute is a great boost to my ability to continue & keep current in the beef industry. Not being able to handle the cattle in a safe manner and perform the necessary production protocols would leave me at a disadvantage to other cattle farmers and perhaps evening exiting the industry.
Farming is a very physical occupation and the summer of 2015 was a very trying period. Being unable to walk and do my chores was very disheartening and there were moments of doubt if I could continue to farm. We pressed on through physio and I’m glad to say I’ve come a long ways. The Back to Ag funding for the tub & chute has greatly improved my ability to work on the farm in a safe and productive manner. Without the funding, we would not have been able to afford the system and working cattle would have continued to be a high risk chore for re-injury to my knee.
I am very, very grateful to Back to Ag and their funding partners for selecting me for their program. The program has been a great boost to my ability to continue farming and raising cattle in a safe manner.”
- Mark Verleun, PEI Farmer and Back to Ag recipient
CASA is accepting applications for the Back to Ag program for the 2017-18 funding period. Applications are being received on a first come, first serve basis. Applicants must be farmers who have experienced a life-altering incident resulting in a disability. They must demonstrate that the purchase of specialized equipment or the adaptation of existing equipment will help them get back to work on the farm safely.
The Back to Ag Program is a granting program focused on supporting the cost of adaptive technology for farmers that have experienced a traumatic injury. The Back to Ag Program is the result of a partnership between the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association, Farm Credit Canada and the Rick Hansen Foundation.
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