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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Farmers and farmworkers

Therapists Learn How To Help Farmers Cope With Stress Before It's Too Late
Highlights a U.S. Department of Agriculture initiative to train mental health workers on the unique stressors in agricultural work contributing to disparate rates of suicides for farmers. Discusses the importance of understanding the culture of farming.
Author(s): Tony Leys
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Illinois Agricultural Workers' Health: A County-Level Analysis
Provides data on health status and causes of mortality in Illinois agricultural workers. Includes metro versus nonmetro comparisons as well as county-level breakdowns of agricultural workers' health and injuries.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Viruses in U.S. Dairy Cattle and Detection of Two Human Cases
Reports on monitoring of farm workers with exposure to dairy cattle or raw cow's milk infected with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus and identification of two farm workers infected with the virus, presumably through cow-to-human transmission. Describes ongoing surveillance and medical countermeasures and discusses challenges with reaching workers exposed to A(H5N1) viruses, including those located in rural areas.
Author(s): Shikha Garg, Carrie Reed, C. Todd Davis, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 73(21), 501–505
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Who is at Risk Amid the H5N1 Influenza Outbreak? Characteristics and Health Coverage of Animal Production Workers
Analyzes demographic characteristics of animal production and aquaculture workers to determine risk for contracting H5N1 influenza, also known as bird flu. Characteristics include race and ethnicity, immigration status, insurance status, household income, and English proficiency in the 7 impacted states. Discusses policy measures to address health threats.
Author(s): Josh Michaud, Drishti Pillai, Samantha Artiga, Jennifer Kates
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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The Climate Migrant: Health Risks Before, During, and After Migration
Explores the different types of migrants created by or affected by climate change and their health risks and needs. Defines three types of migrants: climate-precipitates migrants, climate-impacted migrants, and climate workers. Details the different challenges and needs of the different types of migrants.
Author(s): Amy K. Liebman, Marysel Pagan-Santana, Claire H. Seda
Citation: Journal of the National Hispanic Medical Association, 2(1), 36-43
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
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Rural Research Brief: Creating A Better Understanding of Farmworker Communities and Their Housing Conditions
Examines the legal, cultural, and geographic determinants that impact housing for farmworkers and their families. Focuses on farmworker demographics, economic characteristics, housing challenges, programs aimed at improving housing, and potential policy solutions.
Author(s): Manda LaPorte
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
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Urinary Biomonitoring of Glyphosate Exposure Among Male Farmers and Nonfarmers in the Biomarkers of Exposure and Effect in Agriculture (BEEA) Study
Presents a study on glyphosate exposure among farmers and farmworkers and compares exposure rates to non-farmers. Discusses the efficacy of personal protective equipment (PPE) and compares different PPE combinations.
Author(s): Vicky C. Chang, Maria Ospina, Shuai Xie, et al.
Citation: Environment International, 187, 108644
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
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Greener Pastures
A documentary that follows 4 Midwestern farm families over a number of years and examines issues such as mental health, social isolation, climate change, and economic uncertainty. Provides commentary on farming life in rural America.
Date: 03/2024
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Public Broadcasting Service
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A New Path Forward: A Progress Report on the Implementation of the Equity Commission's Recommendations - Update 2024
Reports on efforts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to advance equity in accordance with Equity Commission recommendations. Discusses the department's commitment to equitable service delivery, and describes updates to programs affecting farmers and ranchers, farmworkers, tribal communities, nutrition assistance, immigrants, rural development, healthcare access, and more.
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture
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The Suicide Epidemic in Rural Minnesota: How We Got Here and How We Move Forward
Provides information on the yearly increase of suicides and deaths of despair in Minnesota, with data broken down by sex, region, and rurality. Discusses factors that impact suicide rates in rural areas, with a focus on rural and indigenous cultures, farming, stigma, firearm access, and more.
Author(s): Marnie Werner, Tracie Rutherford Self
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Rural Behavioral Health, Center for Rural Policy and Development
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