AgriSafe in Action Newsletter
May 2022 Edition
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Mental Health Awareness Month |
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Did you know May is nationally recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month? This spotlight provides a perfect opportunity to take a moment to pause and come up with a strategy for your organization to spread helpful mental health resources, information, and content to individuals in your community. We know that rural communities face many barriers in accessing resources when it comes to caring for their mental wellness. Check out AgriSafe's special mental health newsletter for more information and resources specific to the unique healthcare needs of agricultural communities!
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Agricultural Health and Safety Course |
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The Agricultural Health and Safety Course for Medical and Safety Professionals, from Central States' Center for Agricultural Safety and Health in Nebraska, is designed to examine key health and safety issues specific to rural and agricultural workers. Experts will present course material relevant to those working in health care, public health, education, and safety professions. This course is offered FREE of charge. Registration for each session is required. More information is available here!

Course Dates
- Session A: Agricultural Health — July 12-13, 2022
- Session B: Agricultural Safety and Prevention — July 14-15, 2022
- Session C: Special Topics — Online modules available July 12 - Aug. 12, 2022
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Talking Total Farmer Health® Podcast
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For May's episode of Talking Total Farmer Health we are discussing mental health for agricultural producers. Back in January we attended the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual convention in Atlanta, Georgia, and mental health was a hot topic! In this episode you’ll hear interviews from that convention from Dr. Adam Kantrovich, Bryan Moes, and Galen Lee about how they care for their mental health. Check out this month’s episode to learn more!
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Webinar Recording:
Ag Worker Health and Avian Influenza
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This presentation focuses on understanding the current state of the avian influenza outbreak in the US and provides recommendations for personal protective equipment for people who work with poultry and poultry products. The intended audience for this virtual learning experience is: ag producers, farmers, poultry workers, veterinarians, healthcare providers, and anyone with exposure to poultry or other birds. This webinar recording is available in English and Spanish.
Additional Resources
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AgriSafe Webinar Opportunities |
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QPR for Farmers and Farm Families
Free suicide prevention training is available every Thursday through the end of July. Participants only need to attend 1 session!
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Zoonotic Disease and Pregnancy |
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Zoonotic diseases are transmitted between farm animals and humans and can pose additional risks to those who are pregnant. Farmers and farmworkers have higher levels of risk for contracting zoonotic diseases because of the frequency of their exposure to animals. Prevention is the best defense. Understanding how the disease transmission process works is essential in preventing the spread of zoonotic disease. Women working in agriculture should be aware of the following special considerations during pregnancy: which animals are common carriers of zoonotic disease, symptoms of the disease(s), prevention measures, and pregnancy risks. This new resource Zoonotic Disease & Pregnancy: A Brief Overview, which you can watch below, can be used as a tool to start a vital conversation with agricultural workers on zoonotic safety.
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Long days and heavy workloads leave little time for farmers and ranchers to sit down to eat a fully balanced meal. Creating nutritious meals for the on-the-go producer can be challenging. Food in the Field has a suitable solution. University of Nebraska Nutrition and Health Extension educators have designed portion-sized educational learning videos to address the basics of a healthy eating pattern, methods to prepare easy healthy meals at home, new healthy field-friendly recipes, and tips to pack food for the field with health in mind. Learn more about these innovative methods here.
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Gray May: Brain Tumor Awareness Month |
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Come together for Brain Tumor Awareness Month, which is dedicated to supporting, empowering, and amplifying the voice of the brain tumor community. An estimated 700,000 Americans are living with a primary brain tumor, and the 5-year relative survival rate for malignant brain tumors is only 36%. Brain tumors represent the highest per-patient initial cost of care for any cancer group, with an annualized mean net cost of care approaching $150K. Learn more here!
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AgWell: Creating Community Safety Nets |
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The Rocky Mountain Farmers Union is pleased to share the official rollout of AgWell, a new program aimed at supporting the overall well-being of farmers, ranchers, agricultural workers, and their families throughout the tri-state region of Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico. AgWell seeks to address the increasing stress levels of our local agricultural workers by building networks of support within rural communities.
Learn more about AgWell, or assist in getting the word out about the services offered by:
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Checking out their new website at www.agwell.org
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Following their social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram
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Signing up for their quarterly newsletter
- Offering a training through your organization or connecting AgWell with other organizations that might be interested in hosting trainings
For questions, additional information, or if you would like to be involved, please contact LeeAnne Sanders at leeanne.sanders@rmfu.org.
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NIOSH Protective Clothing Challenge |
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The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) partnered with HeroX, a leading platform and open marketplace for crowdsourced solutions, to launch the “NIOSH Protective Clothing Challenge—Leaving No Body Unprotected.” This challenge will award a total prize purse of $55,000 to up to five teams whose innovations meet the challenge goals. This challenge focuses specifically on medical gowns, firefighter turnout coats and pants, and protective coveralls for various sectors. For more information, including the rules and application process, click here. The deadline to submit solutions is June 30, 2022 at 5:00 PM EDT.
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Upcoming AgrAbility Webinar: Veterans, Agriculture, and Stress
Thursday, June 2, 2022, 1 PM – 2 PM CT
This webinar will explore issues related to the interface of veterans, agriculture, and stress. Some main points to be addressed include the following:
- Unique characteristics and stressors of farm families
- Common themes and risk factors of mental illness and suicide in farmers and ranchers
- Agriculture and horticulture as tools for stress relief
- A farmer veteran's method of managing farm stress
- From special operator to flower farmer: a journey in healing
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