By Paul Maurice, Executive Member, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Over the years, I’ve learned that emergencies rarely happen when it’s convenient. I’m a farmer and board member with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, and I also spent many years as a volunteer rural first responder with my local fire department.

Whether responding to fires, motor vehicle collisions, severe storms or other emergencies, one lesson was always the same: the farms that had taken the time to prepare were almost always in a better position to protect both people and animals.

Wildfires are dominating the headlines this summer, with thousands of people forced to leave their homes on short notice. While most Ontario farmers won’t face a wildfire evacuation, every farm is vulnerable to emergencies. Floods, tornadoes, barn fires, prolonged power outages and extreme heat can all put people, livestock and farm businesses at risk with little warning.

As farmers, we spend a lot of time preparing for uncertainty. We watch the weather, manage financial risk and plan for changing markets. But emergency planning is one task that’s easy to put off because we hope we’ll never need it.

If you raise livestock, having a plan is especially important.

Evacuating cattle, sheep, poultry, horses or pigs is more complex than loading family and pets into the vehicle and heading to safety. It takes transportation, a destination, feed, water and people who know how to handle animals correctly and safely – arrangements that are much easier to make before an emergency than while one is unfolding.

In some situations, evacuation may not even be the best option and sheltering animals in place can be safer. During flooding, livestock need access to higher ground. During extreme heat, they need shade, ventilation and reliable water. During a prolonged power outage, farmers need a way to keep ventilation, water, feeding, milking and refrigeration systems operating.

That’s why every farm – whether you have livestock or not – should have a written emergency plan tailored to its own needs.

Communication is another important part of preparedness.

Would your employees know what to do if you aren’t home? Does everyone have your veterinarian’s phone number? Who has access to livestock trailers? Which neighbours could help if animals need to be moved quickly? Do you have fire extinguishers in your tractor or harvesting equipment?

It’s also important to think about the information emergency responders may need if they arrive on your farm. Clearly marked utility shutoffs, property maps showing buildings and hazards, and current livestock records can help them respond more safely and effectively.

If you’re working the fields, do you or your operator know the 911 number in case you need to call for help so responders will know where to find you?

Power outages deserve special attention on livestock farms; even a few hours without electricity can become an animal welfare issue. Make sure your farm has a backup generator, test it regularly and make sure everyone who may need to use it knows how it works. You should also have a plan if your main water supply and septic system become unavailable.

From my years as a volunteer rural first responder, I know emergency crews do remarkable work under difficult circumstances. No emergency plan can eliminate every risk, but it can reduce confusion, help people make better decisions under pressure and improve the chances of protecting both livestock and people.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture has an emergency preparedness resource to help farmers plan for a range of situations, from wildfires and flooding to severe storms and extended power outages. Many other agricultural organizations, from commodity groups to Farm & Food Care Ontario and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agri-business, also have useful resources.

Every farm is different, but every farm should have a plan. We all hope we’ll never have to use it, but if an evacuation order is issued, the power goes out for days or floodwaters start rising, you’ll be glad you took the time to prepare.

Five things you can do today

• Develop or update a written emergency plan for your farm.
• Identify where livestock could be relocated if evacuation becomes necessary and make sure transportation is available.
• Create an emergency contact list that includes employees, family, veterinarians, neighbours and emergency services.
• Test backup generators and make plans for alternative water, feed and fuel supplies.
• Review OFA’s Emergency Preparedness for Farm Animals resource and update your plan regularly.

While this list was written with farmers in mind, it is a good idea for anyone to have an emergency contact list, extra supplies and a plan on who to call or where to go if disaster strikes. You never know when a bit of extra planning can make a life-altering difference.

For more information or to request an interview:

Tyler Brooks
Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883
[email protected]