Rooted in Diversity: Black History Month
February is nationally recognized as Black History Month. AgriSafe would like to recognize and celebrate Black history and the contribution Black farmers have made and continue to make to the agricultural industry!

According to the USDA's Census of Agriculture, in 2017:
  • The United States had 48,697 producers who identified as Black, either alone or in combination with another race, marking a 5% increase since 2012.
  • Black-operated farms accounted for 4.7 million acres of farmland in the US.
  • One-fifth of Black producers had served or were currently serving in the US military.
  • Black-operated farms sold $1.4 billion in agricultural products, with 61% in crop sales and 39% in livestock and livestock product sales.
Here are some historical contributions from Black farmers to the agriculture industry:
  1. Early Seed Planters
  2. Biological Regeneration of the Soil Through the Nitrogen Cycle and Crop Rotation
  3. Compost
  4. Sustainable Farming Practices
  5. Community Supported Agriculture
  6. Transportation Refrigeration System
  7. Farming Cooperatives
AgriSafe: Total Farmer Health® Coach Positions
Are you passionate about improving the overall health of farmers and ranchers? Join the AgriSafe team as a trusted health coach certified to educate farmers and ranchers on Total Farmer Health (TFH). Because your initial training is 100% online, you can complete the Total Farmer Health Coach Certification wherever you feel most comfortable and whenever it best fits into your schedule. To learn more, view this 30-minute overview on how to become a Total Farmer Health Coach and launch your new career with the AgriSafe Network.
Talking Total Farmer Health® Podcast
In this month’s episode of Talking Total Farmer Health, we discuss staying safe around anhydrous ammonia. Guest Dan Neenan from the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety joins us to explain what anhydrous ammonia is, how to apply it safely, and what to do if exposed.
February Health Spotlight: Heart Health
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. According to the American Heart Association, someone dies of heart disease every 36 seconds in the US. That is 2,380 deaths each day.

Stress impacts heart health. Significant risk factors of stress can include concern over finances, weather, and both personal and family issues. Stress may lead to high blood pressure, which increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Check out AgriSafe's website for articles, fact sheets, and webinars that address the impact of stress on physical and mental wellness. 

For more information, check out these resources:
Educating Healthcare Providers
If a healthcare provider wasn’t raised on a farm, chances are they know very little about agricultural risks and occupational exposures. Agricultural workers should educate their healthcare providers on what tasks they perform on the farm. Take 5 is a resource developed to help agricultural workers educate their health care providers about the daily tasks they perform on the farm that could influence their health. Click here to download the Take 5 resource.
Healthcare Resiliency: Free Webinar
AgriSafe is very thankful for all of the work that healthcare workers have done to do to keep us healthy and safe during this pandemic! Check out this free OnDemand webinar "Nurse Resiliency: Identifying Workplace Distress and Promoting Well-being," provided by the University of Louisiana Lafayette. This program is approved for 1.0 contact hour and is ANCC accredited. The target audience for this training is Nurses or any healthcare workers who have experienced various forms of stress or distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to register for this training!
Upcoming AgriSafe Webinars
What to Expect While Expecting: For Female Producers & Farmworkers in Ag
February 16th, 2022
12pm - 1:00pm CST
Anhydrous Ammonia Safety for Farmworkers
February 24th, 2022
12pm - 1pm CST
American Indian/Alaskan Native Summit
Join the Indigenous Health Education and Resource Taskforce (IHEART) for the Spring American Indian/Alaskan Native Healthcare Workforce Development Summit on March 1st, 2022, from 12pm - 4pm EST.

IHEART will reconvene national organizations, community and institutional leaders to continue developing regional approaches to increase the representation of American Indian and Alaska Natives in the health professions.

Click here to register.
American Farm Bureau Federation Convention
AgriSafe Network team members invested in the people, purpose, and possibilities of the 103rd American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Convention, held January 7th-12th in Atlanta, GA. On the trade show floor, AgriSafe staff engaged with attendees to discuss the physical, mental, and emotional needs of today’s agricultural producers. In addition, AgriSafe Network staff trained over 50 attendees in QPR (Question, Persuade and Refer). QPR training addresses mental stress and suicide risks of those working in agriculture.
Now Hiring: Job Opportunities
UNMC College of Public Health: Faculty Positions
The College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in Omaha, NE, seeks 2 highly qualified candidates for tenure-leading faculty positions in the Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health. The first position requests expertise in industrial hygiene, and the second position requests expertise in environmental health, climate change, and water quality.
Upcoming Events in Ag
Grain Bin Safety Week 2022
In the past 50 years, over 900 cases of grain engulfment have been reported, with a 62% fatality rate. This year’s Grain Bin Safety Week takes place February 20th-26th. Join us in the effort to help raise awareness and save lives! Access the news release and other promotional tools here. Learn more about participating here.
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Phone: (866) 312-3002