APAS
The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan – or APAS – has been the voice of Saskatchewan’s farmers and ranchers since 2000.
APAS is Saskatchewan’s only democratically elected, producer-run, non-partisan, grassroots, general farm organization.
They work on behalf of their members to address the most important issues facing the province’s agriculture sector, including rail transportation, carbon taxation, business risk management, seed royalties, and water policy, to name a few.
APAS represents Saskatchewan as a member of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and advocates on behalf of Saskatchewan agricultural producers to all levels of government.
They learn from their members about the most important problems farmers face, come up with innovative policy solutions, and promote these solutions to government and industry leaders. Their work leads directly to programs, policy, and legislation that serve farmers better.
APAS provides rewards for their members which include the discounts at Mark’s Work Wearhouse (card comes with Tax Notices, more cards available at the R.M. office), discounts at selected Chrylser dealerships, discounts at select hotels, and much more.
Check out their website at https://apas.ca
Agriculture in the Classroom
Agriculture in the Classroom-SK is a nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to agricultural education. Every year, it inspires more than 70,000 youth in Saskatchewan to gain a deeper understanding of and develop a stronger connection to the food production system, while also fostering their aspirations to potentially join the industry in the future.
Since 1994, Agriculture in the Classroom Sask Inc. (AITC-SK) has played a pivotal role in educating youth about agriculture through hands-on activities, engaging programs and inquiry-based educational resources.
The AITC-SK team is passionate about inspiring the next generation to care about food, and is governed by a board of directors who are committed to supporting the organization’s goals.
Their curriculum-linked initiatives are available for Kindergarten to Grade 12 teachers and students across Saskatchewan at no cost. Teachers can easily incorporate agriculture in their classrooms with our over 100 resources, including storybooks, learning kits, websites, downloadable lesson plans, and more. Their programs offer students in- and out-of-school opportunities to experience agriculture up-close and hands-on. These meaningful experiences include farm tours, classroom presentations, agriculture events, school gardens, food farms, and more.
By encouraging teachers to embed agriculture into their classrooms, AITC-SK cultivates an understanding and appreciation of the food and fiber system we rely on daily.
Their curriculum-based initiatives explore a wide array of concepts, such as where food comes from, food waste, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), career exploration, and more, with the theme of sustainability woven throughout.
They know that to drive change, youth need to have multiple positive agriculture learning experiences throughout their education journey. Every student should go on a farm tour, grow a garden, learn how to read a food label, talk to a producer, sit in a tractor, feed an animal, and learn about the abundance of career opportunities in agriculture. To create a cohesive learning journey, we strategically provide experiences at different grade levels, where each builds upon the previous one.
Check out their website for more information at aitc.sk.ca
The Agricultural Health & Safety Network
In 1988, the Agricultural Health & Safety Network (The Network) began as a joint venture between the Centre for Agricultural Medicine, Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) and six Saskatchewan Rural Municipalities.
Since then, the Centre for Agricultural Medicine became the Institute of Agricultural Rural and Environmental Health; the Canadian Centre for Health in Agriculture and eventually to what is now known as the Canadian Centre for Rural and Agricultural Health (CCRHA). The Network functions as part of CCRAH’s rural extension division and grew to 213 RMs in 2018. From the Network’s location at the University of Saskatchewan, occupational health and safety information and programs are delivered to over 27,000 Saskatchewan farm families – more than half of all the farm families in Saskatchewan.
The Network provides may useful resources, Discovery Days for students and clinics.
One2One Hearing and Respiratory clinics are provided by the Agricultural Health and Safety Network – of the Canadian Centre for Rural and Agricultural Health at the University of Saskatchewan. One2One Hearing and Respiratory Health Clinics are for Saskatchewan farmers/ranchers, their families and agricultural workers.
Participants have an opportunity to meet with a trained agricultural occupational health nurse in a confidential setting to address their health and safety concerns.
- Blood pressure reading
- Hearing test or lung function testing
- Personalized screenings and assessments tailored to the specific hazards, risks and exposures associated with their specific agricultural work
- Provide access to resources
- Referrals to specialized care to optimize personal health and safety
The clinics are held either in your local RM or at our clinic at the USask campus.
Check out their website for more information at cchsa-ccssma.usask.ca