Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Occupational health and safety
The Childcare and Farm Children's Safety Conundrum
Discusses the family, community and interpersonal, and policy factors impacting farm safety decisions by exploring child care on the farm. Study included 68 farm women in Ohio, Vermont, and Wisconsin, states chosen based on their rates of child injuries, policy approaches to child care, production types, and rates of female and beginning farmers.
Author(s): Florence Becot, Sarah Ruszkowski
Citation: Rural Sociology, 91(4)
Date: 10/2026
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Discusses the family, community and interpersonal, and policy factors impacting farm safety decisions by exploring child care on the farm. Study included 68 farm women in Ohio, Vermont, and Wisconsin, states chosen based on their rates of child injuries, policy approaches to child care, production types, and rates of female and beginning farmers.
Author(s): Florence Becot, Sarah Ruszkowski
Citation: Rural Sociology, 91(4)
Date: 10/2026
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Evaluation of Agricultural Heat-Related Illness Prevention Training in Colorado
Evaluates the effectiveness of 13 train-the-trainer (TTT) heat-related illness prevention sessions in Colorado. Study assessed both TTT participants and agricultural workers who were trained by TTT participants. Describes study findings within the 4 levels of the Kirkpatrick evaluation model addressing participant satisfaction, knowledge acquisition, application, and impact of the training.
Author(s): Yessica Paola Martinez Palenque, Whitney Pennington, Kristin M. Skiendzielewski, et al.
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 2026
Date: 10/2026
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Evaluates the effectiveness of 13 train-the-trainer (TTT) heat-related illness prevention sessions in Colorado. Study assessed both TTT participants and agricultural workers who were trained by TTT participants. Describes study findings within the 4 levels of the Kirkpatrick evaluation model addressing participant satisfaction, knowledge acquisition, application, and impact of the training.
Author(s): Yessica Paola Martinez Palenque, Whitney Pennington, Kristin M. Skiendzielewski, et al.
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 2026
Date: 10/2026
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Agriculture and Natural Resource Programming Has the Largest Share of Extension Personnel
Offers a pie chart depicting the share of extension staff in 5 U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperative Extension System program areas between 2007 and 2018.
Author(s): Tatiana Borisova
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Offers a pie chart depicting the share of extension staff in 5 U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperative Extension System program areas between 2007 and 2018.
Author(s): Tatiana Borisova
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Associations of Occupational Exposures on Environmental Allergies Among Farmers and Ranchers in the Central United States
Explores demographics and occupational exposures associated with allergies among farmers in 7 states. Notes public health implications based on study findings and highlights opportunities for further research.
Author(s): Alexandrea Welch, Cheryl Beseler, Yi Du, Shaun Cross, Risto H. Rautiainen
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 31(4), 530-540
Date: 10/2026
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Explores demographics and occupational exposures associated with allergies among farmers in 7 states. Notes public health implications based on study findings and highlights opportunities for further research.
Author(s): Alexandrea Welch, Cheryl Beseler, Yi Du, Shaun Cross, Risto H. Rautiainen
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 31(4), 530-540
Date: 10/2026
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Alpha-gal Syndrome Symptom Profiles and Diagnostic Experiences Among Farmers and Ranchers
Surveys 201 farmers and ranchers with an alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) diagnosis on their knowledge of AGS prior to diagnosis, symptoms, and diagnosis experience. Discusses demographic differences, the number of medical provider visits for a diagnosis, and the type of medical professional providing the diagnosis.
Author(s): Alexandrea M. Welch, Cheryl L. Beseler, Shaun T. Cross
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine
Date: 09/2026
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Surveys 201 farmers and ranchers with an alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) diagnosis on their knowledge of AGS prior to diagnosis, symptoms, and diagnosis experience. Discusses demographic differences, the number of medical provider visits for a diagnosis, and the type of medical professional providing the diagnosis.
Author(s): Alexandrea M. Welch, Cheryl L. Beseler, Shaun T. Cross
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine
Date: 09/2026
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Cooperative Extension in Transition: Trends Through 2024
Reports on funding and program areas of Cooperative Extension programs from 1915 through 2024. Details how Cooperative Extension programs support agricultural education, nutrition, community development, and other topics relevant to rural populations.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Tatiana Borisova, Keith Fuglie, Benjamin Garber, Sun Ling Wang
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Reports on funding and program areas of Cooperative Extension programs from 1915 through 2024. Details how Cooperative Extension programs support agricultural education, nutrition, community development, and other topics relevant to rural populations.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Tatiana Borisova, Keith Fuglie, Benjamin Garber, Sun Ling Wang
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Using the Machine Learning Algorithm XGBoost to Understand the Correlates of Wearing Hearing Protection in Central States' Agricultural Producers
Examines correlates to the use of hearing protection among agricultural producers in seven states using data from the Farm and Ranch Health and Safety Survey collected in 2018, 2020, and 2023. Uses a machine learning algorithm to identify correlative factors to the use of hearing protection, such as sex, type of agricultural operation, and operator role, among others.
Author(s): Cheryl L. Beseler, Ellen G. Duysen, Risto H. Rautiainen
Citation: American Journal of Audiology, 35(3), 955-964
Date: 09/2026
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Examines correlates to the use of hearing protection among agricultural producers in seven states using data from the Farm and Ranch Health and Safety Survey collected in 2018, 2020, and 2023. Uses a machine learning algorithm to identify correlative factors to the use of hearing protection, such as sex, type of agricultural operation, and operator role, among others.
Author(s): Cheryl L. Beseler, Ellen G. Duysen, Risto H. Rautiainen
Citation: American Journal of Audiology, 35(3), 955-964
Date: 09/2026
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Federal Protections for Farmworker Health in the United States: A Scoping Review of Three Decades of Research
Presents a scoping review of empirical research on two federal farmworker health protection programs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Field Sanitation Standard (FSS) and the U.S. Department of Labor's Worker Protection Standard (WPS). Explores the methodology and scope of studies assessing FSS and WPS.
Author(s): Kaitlyn Alvarez Noli, Stephane Labossiere, Becca Berkey, Joseph G. Grzywacz
Citation: American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 69(11), 899-910
Date: 08/2026
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Presents a scoping review of empirical research on two federal farmworker health protection programs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Field Sanitation Standard (FSS) and the U.S. Department of Labor's Worker Protection Standard (WPS). Explores the methodology and scope of studies assessing FSS and WPS.
Author(s): Kaitlyn Alvarez Noli, Stephane Labossiere, Becca Berkey, Joseph G. Grzywacz
Citation: American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 69(11), 899-910
Date: 08/2026
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Minors Working on the Farm: Child Labor Laws for Agricultural Employers
Webinar recording describing state and federal policies regulating the scenarios where minors may work in agriculture. Discusses hazardous activities and parental exemptions.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: The National Agricultural Law Center
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Webinar recording describing state and federal policies regulating the scenarios where minors may work in agriculture. Discusses hazardous activities and parental exemptions.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: The National Agricultural Law Center
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Robotics and Technologies for the Safety and Health of Farmers: A Scoping Review
Reports on the findings of a scoping review regarding the use of robotics and autonomous technology to improve agricultural health and safety. The review includes 26 studies published in English since 2015. Highlights types of technology being used and the scope of health and safety being studied.
Author(s): Aidan Moriarty, Kerri-Lynn Peachey, Tony Lower, Carlos Mesa-Castrillon
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 2026
Date: 07/2026
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Reports on the findings of a scoping review regarding the use of robotics and autonomous technology to improve agricultural health and safety. The review includes 26 studies published in English since 2015. Highlights types of technology being used and the scope of health and safety being studied.
Author(s): Aidan Moriarty, Kerri-Lynn Peachey, Tony Lower, Carlos Mesa-Castrillon
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 2026
Date: 07/2026
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