National Rural Health Day (NRHD) is observed each year on the third Thursday of November - this year, it falls on November 20, 2025. NRHD celebrates the Power of Rural, recognizing the dedicated individuals and organizations working to meet the unique health care needs of nearly 61 million people living in rural America.

Join AgriSafe in celebrating NRHD on Thursday, November 20, and help shine a light on the vital contributions of rural communities. This year’s theme, “Moving the Power of Rural Forward,” honors the innovation, resilience, and collaboration that continue to drive rural America toward a healthier future.

Free, downloadable NRHD resources are available to help you celebrate and spread the word! Access them using the link below and share your support for the Power of Rural.

Halloween is almost here, and it's time to Say Boo to fall germs! The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu, RSV, and COVID-19 is to get vaccinated.

It takes about two weeks for your body to build immunity after vaccination—so with Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to roll up your sleeve.

Stay healthy, keep gatherings safe, and make this holiday season one to celebrate—not sneeze through. Don’t wait, get your fall vaccines today!

Source: Your Local Epidemiologist: Updated 2025 fall vaccine guide

Each October, communities across the nation observe Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM)—a time to raise awareness, honor survivors, and strengthen our collective response to domestic and intimate partner violence. First recognized by Congress in 1989, DVAM unites advocates, organizations, and individuals in the shared goal of promoting safety, healing, and prevention.



For rural health practitioners, this month serves as a critical reminder that domestic violence is not limited by geography. Survivors in rural areas often face unique barriers to safety and support, including limited access to shelters, transportation challenges, and a lack of anonymity in small communities. As trusted points of contact, healthcare professionals play a vital role in identifying warning signs, offering compassionate care, and connecting patients with local and national resources.

Helpful Resources for Providers:

• The National Domestic Violence Hotline Provider Search: Find local assistance providers, including those offering shelter, counseling, and legal services.
• Legal Services Corporation: Use their state-by-state search tool to connect survivors with free or low-cost legal aid.
• Using Essential Elements to Select, Adapt, and Evaluate Violence Prevention Approaches: A guide designed for practitioners to strengthen violence prevention programming and training.
• RHIhub’s Violence and Abuse in Rural America Resource Page: Explore research, tools, and support programs focused on rural communities.

This October, and every month, health practitioners can help create safer, more supportive rural communities by listening without judgment, providing resources discreetly, and fostering environments where survivors feel seen and heard.

Husker Harvest Days 2025 (Grand Island, Nebraska, Sept. 9 - 11)

Attendees at Husker Harvest Days had the opportunity to explore cutting-edge agricultural products, connect with suppliers and service providers, and access vital agricultural health and safety information at the PAF (Progressive Ag Foundation) Safety Zone within the health and wellness tent.

AgriSafe’s Agricultural Health Liaison, Linda Emanuel, represented AgriSafe at the event, engaging with attendees about the importance of preventing heat-related illnesses among agricultural workers. Together, the PAF Safety Zone team distributed 730 health and safety resource kits to farmers across the Midwest!

A special thank-you to the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (CS-CASH) for supporting AgriSafe’s participation at this event through a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing Grant (U54 OH010162).

2025 Tara/Olivia Washington Presentation (Colville, Washington - Sept. 29)

AgriSafe’s Behavioral Health Coordinator, Olivia Bury, and Total Farmer Health Director, Tara Haskins, traveled to Colville in Northeast Washington on September 29 to deliver a CALM (Counseling on Access to Lethal Means) Workshop. CALM is recognized in the Suicide Prevention Resource Center’s Best Practice Registry for its effectiveness in reducing suicide risk through safe storage and access education.

This four-hour workshop, designed for healthcare providers, was made possible through a mini-grant from the Western Regional Agricultural Stress Assistance Program (WRASAP). The AgriSafe team was honored to present to 45 behavioral health professionals from the Northeast Washington Alliance Behavioral Health, an organization that provides comprehensive mental health and substance use services, as well as employment and housing support, across Stevens, Ferry, and Lincoln Counties. Participants included peer specialists, clinicians, crisis intervention specialists, and emergency medicine staff—all committed to fostering hope, recovery, and resilience within their communities.

One attendee shared the following statement in their training evaluation, saying:

“I greatly appreciate this training and the thoroughness of the information provided. Thank you!”

While in the area, Tara and Olivia also took a moment to enjoy apple season in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

AgriSafe will be hosting a second virtual CALM workshop in early December—stay tuned for registration details!

Learn more about AgriSafe’s CALM workshops here.

Did you know that the number of female operators and producers is the quickest-growing demographic in agriculture? According to the 2019-updated ARMS survey from 2016, females serve as operators on over 51% of U.S. farms.

Since women play such a large role in agriculture, it is important to know about the reproductive health interactions/impacts involved with working the land and caring for livestock.

Zoonotic infections and animal-vaccine exposures are of high concern for females and their reproductive health during all life stages. AgriSafe partners, including Gallagher Insurance, the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health, and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, have collaboratively created a free downloadable resource, “Women’s Reproductive Health: Beef Cattle Handling Exposures,” to address common medication, vaccination, and zoonotic exposures. This producer-friendly guide discusses dangerous exposures for moms and fetuses as well as prevention strategies.

Access the resource and other women’s health resources at Women’s Reproductive Health: Beef Cattle Handling Exposures

Preventive care is the key to improving health outcomes for all.

The NFSHW webinar recordings are currently available for FREE in the AgriSafe Learning Lab!

For more information, click on the webinar titles below:

• Road Safety and Agriculture As We Age
• Farm Equipment Hits the Highway: Growing Risks and Smarter Solutions
• Changing Our Mental and Emotional Trajectory (COMET) Community Training
• Strong Roots: Keeping Farming in the Family Through Health and Resilience
• Communication Coaching to Support Farm Harmony Across Generations
• Too Young to Plow Alone: Keeping Youth Safe on the Farm
• Confined Spaces in Agriculture
• AgriSafe Natural Disaster Recovery Response Think Tank
• Safe Operation of ATVs and UTVs for Agriculture
• Wheels of Misfortune: Off-Road Vehicles on Public Roadways

2025 NFSHW CHAMPION DIGITAL BADGE: Participants who attend three or more of AgriSafe’s NFSHW25 webinars will earn a digital badge recognizing their status as an NFSHW25 Champion! This badge acknowledges each participant’s dedication to protecting the health and safety of individuals working in the agricultural industry. Employers are encouraged to promote participation among their staff to help their teams achieve this recognition. Participants can celebrate their accomplishment by sharing this badge on their social media accounts or by including it in their email signature!

CONTINUING EDUCATION: The University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Education and Research Center, offers 1.0 contact hour for each webinar during National Farm Safety and Health Week. Upon completing the evaluation, learners will receive a certificate of completion. This course can meet continuing education requirements for a variety of professionals, including: BGC criteria for IH/CIH professionals, BCSP criteria for safety professionals, and CPH criteria for public health professionals.

The top leading causes of injuries and death in agriculture involve accidents with motorized vehicles or machinery. Motorized vehicles are not just those large ag vehicles like combines or tractors, but also ATV/UTV's. In this episode of Talking Total Farmer Health, podcast host Linda Emanuel speaks with Curt Porterfield from about ATV/UTV safety.

If you use ATV/UTV's, you don't want to miss this episode!

To listen to the latest episode, visit our website or on Apple Podcasts or Spotify - make sure to subscribe so that you to get notified when our episodes are released!

AgriSafe’s Invest in Your Health (IYH) program provides a series of free, ready-to-use curricula designed specifically for agricultural educators, 4-H and FFA mentors, and young producers ages 14–23. With seven curricula and six engaging e-learning modules already available, IYH equips the next generation of agricultural leaders to make informed health and safety choices.

Featured Student Module: Hearing Protection

This e-learning module is designed for students to teach them about hearing protection, with a focus on stressors that come from working in agriculture.

• Approximate time: 30 minutes
• Interactive and student-friendly
• Focused on real-world agricultural work environments

Stay up to date with the latest in agricultural health and safety by exploring our upcoming training sessions and events. Each webinar offers expert-led discussions and practical insights tailored to support the

well-being of agricultural communities. Reserve your spot today!

98th National FFA Convention and Expo (Oct. 29 – Nov. 1)

The 98th National FFA Convention and Expo will take place October 29 – November 1, 2025, in Indianapolis, Indiana. This inspiring event will bring together hundreds of thousands of FFA members from chapters across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Save the Date: 2026 AgrAbility National Training Workshop

The AgrAbility National Training Workshop is the premier training event addressing issues of disability in agriculture.

Professionals and consumers from all over the country participate in four days of plenary sessions, breakouts, tours, networking, and special events. The 2026 conference is March 16 – 19, 2026 at the Park Place Hotel which is located at 300 East State Street, Traverse City, MI.

AgrAbility National Training Workshop Encore Webinars 2025

Join AgrAbility for monthly webinars from some of the most requested sessions of the 2025 in-person National Training Workshop. Each one-hour webinar begins at 2:00 p.m. CDT on the given Wednesday below.

• October 22: “From Loss to Resilience: The Science of Grief”
• November 19: “Bee Calm, Bee Well”
• December 17: “Why Do My Hands Hurt, and What Can I Do About It?”

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