AgriSafe in Action Newsletter
February 2023 Edition
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Rooted in Diversity: Black History Month |
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February is nationally recognized as Black History Month. AgriSafe would like to celebrate Black history and recognize the contributions Black farmers have made and continue to make to the agricultural industry.
Did you know the following agricultural contributions were created by Black producers?
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Frederick McKinley Jones created the first refrigerated truck, which paved the way for transporting perishable food items.
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George Washington Carver developed the biological regeneration of soil using the nitrogen cycle and crop rotation, and he also discovered the importance of using compost to aid in soil regeneration. Using compost allowed poor farmers to fertilize their soil without having to purchase expensive commercial fertilizers.
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Henry Blair patented two inventions: a corn seed planter and a cotton seed planter.
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In 1987 Booker T. Whatley wrote the book, How To Make $100,000 Farming 25 Acres, farmers could then use his ten commandments of farming to minimize unnecessary costs, limit wastes, and maximize income and farm space with smart crop selection.
- The United States had 48,697 producers who identified as Black (a 5% increase since 2012).
- Black producers were on average older than U.S. producers overall (60.8 years versus 57.5 years in 2017) and more likely to have served or be serving in the U.S. military.
- Black producers accounted for 1.4 percent of the country’s 3.4 million producers, and they lived and farmed primarily in southeastern and mid-Atlantic states.
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This month on Talking Total Farmer Health we talk to Susan Harris about the importance of sleep! We all know we need sleep, but what really happens to our bodies when we miss out on sleep? What are some baby steps we can take to get our sleep back on track? Hear all of this and more on the latest episode. Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
If you like our podcast, tell us by using the following hashtag on your socials!: #TTFHpod
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Tyra Howell is from southeastern Connecticut. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in public health with minors in Sociology and Psychology from Drexel University in 2021. Currently, Tyra is pursuing a Master’s in Public Health with a concentration in Health Policy from Tulane University. At AgriSafe, her applied practicum experience is focused on the impact of health policies on Total Farmer Health.
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Angela Landrum is a mental health counselor and information science master's student at UNT based in Galveston, TX. She has a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, and an Associate of Arts in Psychology from South Texas College. She has six years of experience working in mental health, along with previous experience in teaching, research, and technology. In her free time, she enjoys practicing her art skills, spending time with her family (which includes her husband and two dogs Fiona and Sasha), and taking long walks along the beach in Galveston.
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2023 American Farm Bureau Federation Convention
"Significant conversations, achievements celebrated, and friendships forged" was the summary message shared by Zippy Duvall (American Farm Bureau Federation president) regarding the 2023 annual convention. AgriSafe Network C.E.O. Natalie Roy and Community Health Director Linda Emanuel attended the convention hosted in San Juan Puerto Rico in early January. Speaking with farmers and ranchers as well as stakeholders and partners, AgriSafe staff reconnected, forged, and built new relationships with subject matter experts committed to the diverse health and safety needs of our nation’s producers. Mi Familia, the conference theme, projected a strong family working bond to continue “show up for each other”, a resounding dynamic for all those working in agriculture.
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2023 VIRGINIA FARM SHOW
Laura Siegel, AgriSafe's Health Communications Officer, tabled with Garland Mason and Jeremy Daubert from Virginia AgrAbility, at the 2023 Virginia Farm Show in Fishersville, VA from January 18th-20th. Together they promoted agricultural health, safety, and wellness to the diverse range of producers that came from across the state of Virginia.
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February Health Spotlight: Heart Health |
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According to the World Health Organization, Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally (source). February is American Heart Month, a time for people to focus on assessing and improving their cardiovascular health. Did you know CVDs and CVD mortality are increasing in working-age adults, and Black male adults living in the United States are among those bearing the highest burden of CVD and the related health consequences? According to an observational study supported by the National Institutes of Health, adults living in rural areas of the United States have a 19% higher risk of developing heart failure compared to their urban counterparts, and Black men living in rural areas have a 34% higher risk for developing heart failure (source).
Check out these resources for heart health:
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AgriSafe Webinar Opportunities |
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FREE
March 16, 2023
12 PM - 1:30 PM CT
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Exploring Health and Safety for Black Farmers:
Racism, Land Access, Mental Health, and Resources
February 23, 2023
12 PM - 1 PM CT
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The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has been publishing guidance documents that provide the basis for comprehensive occupational safety and health standards since 1972. NIOSH is seeking feedback to improve the information presented in these documents and better understand preferred communication methods to obtain workplace health and safety information.
The survey asks questions about the participant’s familiarity with NIOSH guidance documents, how that information was obtained, and any recommendations as to they can improve their documents for future use. This survey does not collect any personally identifiable information and should take less than 5 minutes to complete. Your responses will remain anonymous and if you are interested in participating please complete the survey available here by March 31, 2023.
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Upcoming Events in Agriculture |
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The SW Ag Center has released its FY2024 Request for Applications Pilot/Feasibility Program to promote health and safety in agriculture, forestry, and fishing occupations. The SW Ag Center is eager to diversify its pool of applicants and consider new projects.
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: May 15, 2023
- Notice of Award: July 31, 2023
- Anticipated Start Date: October 2, 2023
- Number of Awards: Up to 2
- Duration of Award: 12 months
- Award Amount: up to $20,000
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