Industry Code: 01801
This industry covers the growing of mushroom or mushroom spawn and the raising of earthworms and beetles.
Operation Details:
Mushrooms are grown in temperature and humidity-controlled buildings similar to greenhouses without glass. The buildings are divided into growing rooms and contain either stationary or portable growing trays, ranging in size from 1 meter by 2 meters to 1 meter by 16 meters.
The mushrooms are grown in a compost mixture of horse manure, brewers' grain, chicken manure and chemicals. This decomposes for two weeks and is then partially sterilized under heat to destroy bacteria. Mushroom spawn, in the form of seeds similar to wheat kernels, are then planted (called pinning) and left for two to three weeks. After that time a two inch layer of peat moss is spread over the trays. The entire growth process takes six to eight weeks after which the mushrooms are harvested by hand. White and brown mushrooms are the most common types of mushrooms may be grown.
The mushrooms are picked and weighed, quick cooled and sent to the assemble line where workers place the mushrooms in boxes or package and wrap them in Styrofoam trays. They are then placed in a refrigerated warehouse until shipped. They are also shipped by refrigerated (reefer) truck. Mushrooms may be purchased from other mushroom farms as well. The cleaning, packaging, storage and transporting of the mushrooms, when done in conjunction with the growing, is considered part of this industry.
The foregoing process may be done either by hand or with the use of machinery such as conveyors, seeders, forklifts, and compost machines. Workers may include labourers, pickers, packagers, shippers and receivers, truckers, equipment operators and office and administrative staff.
Customers may consist of grocery stores, walk-in clientele, soup manufacturers and canning plants.
Bait farms: The operation of a bait farm is similar to that of a mushroom farm, as both use a mixture of peat moss, soil and manure in the growing process.
Bait farms may obtain brood stock that is imported from outside of Alberta or may extract moist soil which contains worm manure from around the province. The soil, including moist worm manure, is put into piles (beds) which accumulate worms. The beds are boxes 3 meters long by 1 meter wide, by 1 meter deep. The bedding material consists of peat moss, shredded paper, shredded cardboard, manure, dirt, wood chips or any combination thereof.
The worms are fed by spreading a finely ground mixture of grains and vitamin additives on top of the bed. The bed is then covered with a piece of cloth or black plastic, which keeps the light away from the food, at which time the worms come to the surface to eat the mixture. These worms are extracted with use of a light that is put on top of the beds. The worms burrow deeper into the soil and are extracted through a raking process.
Maggots and beetles are raised in a similar manner on these farms.
These creatures are packaged live in plastic bags or containers with peat moss, sawdust and /or moist soil. They are used as bait for fishing and pet food for fish, reptiles, etc. Research has found that earth worms can be used for the disposal of industrial waste, as well as municipal garbage and sewage.
Workers may include labourers, truckers, and office and administrative staff.
Underwriting Considerations:
Mushroom and bait farms were previously classified in industry 1901 which had chosen to participate in Industry Custom Pricing. Participation will continue under this new industry code. As a result, costs related to the aggravation of a pre-existing condition will not be removed from the experience record of employers classified in this industry. In return, the portion of premiums collected to fund retroactive cost relief has been removed from the industry rate, resulting in a reduction in WCB premium rates for the industry.
The growing of mushroom spawn (the placing of mushroom spawn onto a wheat kernel), when conducted as a separate activity is also included in this industry.
Industry Custom Pricing: Waiving Cost Relief Option
This industry has chosen to participate in Industry Custom Pricing effective January 1, 2010. Costs related to the aggravation of a pre-existing condition will not be removed from the experience record of employers classified in this industry. In return, the portion of premiums collected to fund retroactive cost relief has been removed from the industry rate, resulting in a reduction in WCB premium rates for the industry.
Premium Rate History:
Activities:
Bait Farms
Farms, Bait
Farms, Mushroom
Mushroom Farms
Rate Group History:
In 2016, new rate groups were established to better define the various types of farming operations being conducted in Alberta. Rate group 18100 encompasses industries that grow in controlled greenhouse type environments and other miscellaneous farming activities. Prior to 2016, these operations were classified in industry 1901, rate group 017100.
This industry covers the growing of mushroom or mushroom spawn and the raising of earthworms and beetles.
Premium Rate History:
Activities:
Bait Farms
Farms, Bait
Farms, Mushroom
Mushroom Farms
Operation Details:
Mushrooms are grown in temperature and humidity-controlled buildings similar to greenhouses without glass. The buildings are divided into growing rooms and contain either stationary or portable growing trays, ranging in size from 1 meter by 2 meters to 1 meter by 16 meters.
The mushrooms are grown in a compost mixture of horse manure, brewers' grain, chicken manure and chemicals. This decomposes for two weeks and is then partially sterilized under heat to destroy bacteria. Mushroom spawn, in the form of seeds similar to wheat kernels, are then planted (called pinning) and left for two to three weeks. After that time a two inch layer of peat moss is spread over the trays. The entire growth process takes six to eight weeks after which the mushrooms are harvested by hand. White and brown mushrooms are the most common types of mushrooms may be grown.
The mushrooms are picked and weighed, quick cooled and sent to the assemble line where workers place the mushrooms in boxes or package and wrap them in Styrofoam trays. They are then placed in a refrigerated warehouse until shipped. They are also shipped by refrigerated (reefer) truck. Mushrooms may be purchased from other mushroom farms as well. The cleaning, packaging, storage and transporting of the mushrooms, when done in conjunction with the growing, is considered part of this industry.
The foregoing process may be done either by hand or with the use of machinery such as conveyors, seeders, forklifts, and compost machines. Workers may include labourers, pickers, packagers, shippers and receivers, truckers, equipment operators and office and administrative staff.
Customers may consist of grocery stores, walk-in clientele, soup manufacturers and canning plants.
Bait farms: The operation of a bait farm is similar to that of a mushroom farm, as both use a mixture of peat moss, soil and manure in the growing process.
Bait farms may obtain brood stock that is imported from outside of Alberta or may extract moist soil which contains worm manure from around the province. The soil, including moist worm manure, is put into piles (beds) which accumulate worms. The beds are boxes 3 meters long by 1 meter wide, by 1 meter deep. The bedding material consists of peat moss, shredded paper, shredded cardboard, manure, dirt, wood chips or any combination thereof.
The worms are fed by spreading a finely ground mixture of grains and vitamin additives on top of the bed. The bed is then covered with a piece of cloth or black plastic, which keeps the light away from the food, at which time the worms come to the surface to eat the mixture. These worms are extracted with use of a light that is put on top of the beds. The worms burrow deeper into the soil and are extracted through a raking process.
Maggots and beetles are raised in a similar manner on these farms.
These creatures are packaged live in plastic bags or containers with peat moss, sawdust and /or moist soil. They are used as bait for fishing and pet food for fish, reptiles, etc. Research has found that earth worms can be used for the disposal of industrial waste, as well as municipal garbage and sewage.
Workers may include labourers, truckers, and office and administrative staff.
Underwriting Considerations:
Mushroom and bait farms were previously classified in industry 1901 which had chosen to participate in Industry Custom Pricing. Participation will continue under this new industry code. As a result, costs related to the aggravation of a pre-existing condition will not be removed from the experience record of employers classified in this industry. In return, the portion of premiums collected to fund retroactive cost relief has been removed from the industry rate, resulting in a reduction in WCB premium rates for the industry.
The growing of mushroom spawn (the placing of mushroom spawn onto a wheat kernel), when conducted as a separate activity is also included in this industry.
Industry Custom Pricing: Waiving Cost Relief Option
This industry has chosen to participate in Industry Custom Pricing effective January 1, 2010. Costs related to the aggravation of a pre-existing condition will not be removed from the experience record of employers classified in this industry. In return, the portion of premiums collected to fund retroactive cost relief has been removed from the industry rate, resulting in a reduction in WCB premium rates for the industry.
Rate Group History:
In 2016, new rate groups were established to better define the various types of farming operations being conducted in Alberta. Rate group 18100 encompasses industries that grow in controlled greenhouse type environments and other miscellaneous farming activities. Prior to 2016, these operations were classified in industry 1901, rate group 017100.