The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) [1] has launched an online training program for workers new to the agricultural sector, created in partnership with the University of Guelph – Ridgetown Campus Business Development Centre [2]. The Ontario Agriculture Worker Safety and Awareness Certificate [3] is geared towards helping job seekers become more familiar with on-farm safety, while making it easier for employers to train new hires.
This new certificate program includes several e-learning modules designed to provide a broad overview of health and safety on a farm, an introduction to farm equipment operation and safety, and an introduction to both crop farm operations and livestock farm operations. The modules are designed to be completed at the participant’s own pace over approximately 8-10 hours, in an entirely virtual format.
“This introductory online training program will help whether you are exploring a career in agriculture, looking to learn about safe work practices on a farm or considering how to add credentials to your resume,” said Peggy Brekveld, OFA President. “This program will help set anyone up for success.”
“We are proud to partner with the OFA on this timely training initiative,” said Prof. Rene Van Acker, Dean of the Ontario Agricultural College at the University of Guelph. “We have a wide array of educational programs available for career paths in agriculture and food, and this training is a great step towards attracting new students to the agri-food industry.”
The certificate is part of Feeding Your Future [4], an OFA project funded through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, alongside many collaborative partners. The project has a variety of initiatives to make it easier for employers to find, train and retain workers and helps employ Ontarians with meaningful jobs. Through webinars, agri-training opportunities and virtual career fairs, Feeding Your Future allows candidates to learn more about agriculture, enter the workforce feeling prepared and confident, and provides opportunities for new connections to be made.
The Certificate is valued at $299, but until the end of June 2021, it will be offered for only $49 for up to five employees at an operation. It is a small investment for the knowledge and understanding that person who completes it will gain.
To register for the training certificate, visit feedingyourfuture.ca/agri-training [5]. Considering more educational opportunities in the agri-food sector? Discover the programs available at the Ontario Agricultural College [6] and Ridgetown Campus Business Development Centre [7].
This project was funded by the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is the largest general farm organization in Ontario, representing 38,000 farm families across the province. As a dynamic farmer-led organization based in Guelph, the OFA works to represent and champion the interests of Ontario farmers through government relations, farm policy recommendations, research, lobby efforts, community representation, media relations and more. OFA is the leading advocate for Ontario’s farmers and is Ontario’s voice of the farmer. For more information, visit ofa.on.ca.
The Ridgetown Campus Business Development Centre delivers province-wide training and certification programs related to agriculture, food and environmental sustainability. They work with companies and organizations to offer specialized technical training, eLearning course development, testing services and event coordination. For more information, visit https://bdc.ridgetownc.com [8].