Latest Episode

Episode 8 – Thanksgiving Special

Published November 24, 2021

“I’m thankful for farmers because of the hard work, dedication, persistence and pride that they take in their work to help feed people in the United States and around the world.” This week we are celebrating farmers and their important work. We asked listeners and folks who work with the center to send in messages of thanks to the farmers who provide us with Thanksgiving staples and healthy and safe food all year round. We also recognize the enormous stressors that have strained the mental health of farmers and agricultural workers, especially in the last couple of years, and we have provided links to mental health resources for farmers and rural communities.

Episode 7 – Back Pain & Whole Body Vibration

Published November 10, 2021

In this episode, we talk about a common problem for farmworkers: occupational exposure to whole-body vibration, a primary risk factor for back pain. Drs. Fred Gerr and Nate Fethke talk about what whole-body vibration is and ways to reduce exposure. “The machine is shaking and…your muscles are constantly contracting to provide stabilization for your spine, so you need to give those muscles some time to recover.”

Episode 6 – Sleep

Published October 27, 2021

It’s harvest season and during this busy time, farmers and ranchers may not be getting much sleep. In this episode we talked to Susan Harris from Nebraska Extension, and Amanda Prokasky, from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, to talk about the importance of sleep and how the quality and quantity of farmers’ and ranchers’ sleep is affected throughout the year.

Previous Episodes

Episode 5 – ATV Safety Features

Published October 13, 2021

In this episode, Carolyn Sheridan and Jenna Gibbs from the Agricultural Safety and Health Alliance, talk about their work with ATV safety as part of their Gear Up for Ag Program.  Jenna and Carolyn discuss ATV safety and engineering features to help reduce risk of injury. These features include wider frames, crush protection devices, and GPS rollover systems or alarms. “I do think students are really interested in that, because those are safety decisions that you make at the point of purchase. It’s not like a behavior that you have to change after doing it for so many years.” 

Episode 4 – ATVs on the Farm

September 29, 2021

In this episode, we focus on ATV use on the farm and Dr. Jennissen talks about some of the common injuries from ATV farm incidents and which activities might increase the risk of injury.  “ATVs and side by sides were the most common source of injury and death in agriculture across youth, for those kids 17 years and younger, and was the second most common source of injury and death in agriculture for all ages.”

Episode 3 – Young ATV Riders

Published September 15, 2021

 
We continue our conversation with Dr. Jennissen on ATV safety. Adult-sized vehicles are designed for adults, so young rides may be unable to control them. “95% of all deaths of children on ATVs occur on an adult-sized ATV at the time of their crash and death.” Dr. Jennissen also talks about the risk involved with having a passenger on an ATV as most young ride with or as a passenger, increasing the risk of injury and death. 

Episode 2 – ATVs on Roadways

Published September 1, 2021

 ATVs are designed for off-road use.  “They’re not really all-terrain…so when they’re on roadways, both paved and unpaved, they can have a very unpredictable relationship with the roadway surface- one tire can grab and all of a sudden- boom, the ATV is rolling over.”  Dr. Charles Jennissen is a pediatrician and emergency medicine physician who has been around ATVs for most of his life.  We talk with Dr. Jennissen in this episode about the way ATVs are designed and the risk involved with driving them on roads.  He also provides recommendations for staying safe if you have to be on the road with an ATV for farm work.

Episode 1 – Introducing FarmSafe and the Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health

Published August 20, 2021

Welcome to the FarmSafe podcast. Farming is a dangerous job and there are a variety of hazards involved. In this introductory episode, GPCAH researchers and partners talk about their work to help keep farmers safe and healthy.