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In the blink of an eye a farm injury can change your life. Sharing stories of events, close-calls, and effective safety strategies can help you identify on farm risks and figure out ways to prevent devastating injuries and illnesses. The Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health presents FarmSafe, a podcast dedicated to sharing stories and tips to help make your work on the farm safer and healthier. Original music for the FarmSafe podcast was written and performed by Ben Schmidt. This work was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as part of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health. The content does not necessarily represent the official views of the CDC or NIOSH.
83 Episodes
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In this episode, Jenn Patterson sits down with Tim Nikolai, Senior Rural Health Director for the American Heart Association’s Midwest region, to discuss why rural communities face higher risks of heart disease and stroke and what can be done to change that. Tim shares how limited access to health care, healthy foods, and physical activity contributes to these disparities, while also highlighting the inspiring ways rural communities are stepping up—through partnerships with libraries, churches...
Jon Davis, a researcher and assistant professor at the University of Iowa’s College of Public Health has released an updated analysis of more than 3,700 farm-related injuries treated in Iowa hospitals between 2017 and 2023, using the state’s uniquely detailed trauma registry. Because Iowa is one of the few states that flags farm-related injuries in hospital data, the report provides a rare, accurate look at how farmers are getting hurt on the job. Davis found the patterns in his most recent r...
Dr. Renee Anthony joins us to unpack new Iowa trauma registry data showing that machine interactions account for roughly a quarter of farm-related hospital visits, more than half of all amputations, and a third of crushing injuries. While PTO shafts remain a well-known hazard, the numbers reveal a wide range of other machinery—combines, grain elevators, conveyors, augers, and even non-ag equipment—sending farmers to the ER. This episode also previews the Great Plains Center’s upcoming three-p...
In this episode, Dr. Jenna Gibbs and Libby Ritchie join Lauren Lavin, host of the College of Public Health’s student podcast at the University of Iowa, to explore the realities of pediatric agricultural injuries. They discuss why injuries remain the leading cause of death for Americans ages 1–44, how terminology like “incident” instead of “accident” helps shift the focus toward prevention, and what makes farm environments uniquely challenging for children. Grounded in both research and real f...
In the season five kickoff of the FarmSafe Podcast, host Libby Ritchie and Center Director Renee Anthony, preview a packed year of conversations focused on improving health and safety in agriculture. This season features insights from the American Heart Association and experts from the University of Iowa on child injury prevention, machine safety, and new findings from the Iowa Trauma Registry.
Have you ever considered podcasting? The current and former FarmSafe hosts from seasons 1-4 are back to chat about what they learned from making the FarmSafe Podcast. They provide tips for interviewing, including fighting off nerves and creating compelling stories. How did we come up with an original goal of 15-minute episodes? What were the hurdles of starting a agricultural safety and health podcast? All will be answered from our hosts in this season 4 finale. Season 1 featured Kate ...
Carolyn Sheridan, Executive Director of the Ag Health and Safety Alliance, describes the Gear Up for Ag program focused on educating the next generation of farmers and agricultural workers on health and safety. The program, tailored for various age groups (youth, high school, college), prioritizes engagement through interactive activities and demonstrations. Episode Resources Ag Health and Safety Alliance Resource WebpageGPCAH Main Resources WebpageGPCAH FarmSafe in the ClassroomGPCAH Ag Ed...
Jana Davidson, program manager for the Progressive Agriculture Foundation, and Marsha Cheyney, outreach specialist for the Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health, discuss their strategies for agricultural safety outreach programs. Davidson stresses the importance of evaluating ROI and aligning activities with their mission of creating safer and healthier rural communities. Cheyney, representing the regional Great Plains Center, describes a similar but regionally focused approach. Like Da...
Former FarmSafe host, Anna Proctor, PhD, is back to discuss her pilot project with the Great Plains Center. Her study looks at conversations between parent-child dyads to determine how safety behaviors are passed on through modeling, training, and supervision. Do the parents and their adolescents share safety practices and beliefs? And how will these conversations lead to a better understanding of youth safety on the farm? Episode Resources Ag Youth Work GuidelinesAnna’s Vignette
In this episode, Andrew Hennenfent, Iowa’s State Public Health Veterinarian, expertly walks us through rabies risk assessment and prevention strategies tailored specifically to agritourism farms. We also hear from Carrie Klumb, Senior Epidemiologist from Minnesota’s Department of Health, who weighed in on rabies trends from her state. We break down which wildlife species pose the greatest threat, the main routes of transmission, and practical on‑farm prevention tactics. The guest also discuss...
Prescribed fire has evolved from ancient, indigenous land care to a modern toolbox in conservation and sustainable agriculture. Mechanization and chemical substitutes led to its decline, but renewed interest—rooted in both ecological science and cultural revival—has reinvigorated prescribed burning as a vital, multi-purpose land management practice. Amanda Stallman joins us for this episode to provide valuable insight for modern practices and resources like local fire departments, colleges, a...
Omar Ahmad, Deputy Director of the Driving Safety Research Institute at the University of Iowa, discusses his recent project focused on automated driving systems (ADS) in rural America. This episode discusses the challenges of deploying automated vehicles (AVs), particularly in rural areas. Omar highlights issues like software bias towards urban environments, sensor malfunctions in poor weather (especially ice), and difficulty with irregular intersections and high-speed traffic in rural areas...
This episode discusses fire safety and first aid procedures, particularly relevant to farm settings. A key takeaway is the importance of prevention in avoiding injuries and fires. Our expert, Pittsville Fire Chief, Jerry Minor, emphasizes a proactive approach, encompassing proper equipment, training, and building awareness for employees and the entire family. The discussion highlights the importance of proactive safety measures in preventing and responding to fires and injuries on farms. ...
While useful tools and educational programs are being developed to address childcare needs and farm child safety, there are still many social, practical, and monetary challenges to overcome. Dr. Florence Becot joins us again to wrap up our three-part series. This time, we explore the broader impact of childcare expenses on farm families' ability to earn a living and the need for more extensive support initiatives in rural areas to mitigate some of these challenges. This episode highlights the...
Farm families face similar childcare access and affordability challenges as other working families nationwide, yet research on their specific experiences and needs is limited. Existing research lacks a deep understanding of how farm families actually use childcare, and what types of arrangements and support systems would motivate them to utilize childcare more. In this episode, we are joined by Florence Becot, nationwide insurance early career professor in agricultural safety and health and a...
Many farmworkers, particularly those in rural areas, have faced difficulties finding affordable, reliable childcare options due to the demands of farm work, which often includes long, irregular hours. Rural communities often lack sufficient childcare providers, and those that do exist may be too expensive or lack flexibility to accommodate farmers' schedules. Additionally, farm families may have limited access to public childcare assistance programs, as these are often more geared toward urba...
In this episode, we sit down with Ellen Duysen, research assistant professor at the UNMC College of Public Health and coordinator of the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health, to discuss the importance of raising backyard poultry and the growing threat of bird flu (avian influenza). Ellen shares key insights into how bird flu spreads, particularly in small-scale, backyard flocks, and the potential risks it poses to both poultry and human health. Listeners will learn essenti...
Dr. Barbara Lee and Melissa Ploeckelman are joining us again for this episode, The Farm-Kid Paradox, focusing on how to keep children and youth safe while working and living on the farm. The episode covers best practices for educating young farm workers, fostering a culture of safety, and providing age-appropriate tasks to prevent farm incidents. Episode Resources Agricultural Youth Work Guidelines Childhood Agricultural Injuries – 2020 Factsheet, National Children’s Center for Rural and Ag...
In this episode, we tackle the topic of succession planning for family farms. Our guest, Joy Kirkpatrick, a seasoned professional in farm management and succession planning, shares expert advice on how to navigate the often complex process of transferring farm ownership and leadership to the next generation. We discuss strategies for building the skills of successors, planning what is next for the owner generation, the importance of clear communication, and how to address the financial, legal...
In this podcast, we delve into the issue of medication-related falls among farmers, highlighting the risks that medications pose when mixed with the physically demanding nature of farming. Our expert for this episode, Dr. Ryan Carnahan, is currently involved in various projects, including reducing the use of high-risk medications in older adults to prevent falls. Dr. Carnahan emphasizes the importance of regular medication reviews and understanding the side effects of medications. Episode R...
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