Safety

Tick Safety Guide: Preventing Alpha-Gal Syndrome and Lyme Disease

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 18:22:43 GMT

Increasing reports of alpha-gal syndrome, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and other tick-related illnesses are a critical reminder why preparation is important before spending time outside in spring and summer, says University of Missouri and Lincoln University Extension urban entomologist Emily Althoff.

Ticks are the most important vectors of disease in domestic and wild animals throughout the world, and are second only to mosquitoes in transmitting disease in humans. As temperatures rise and people begin camping, fishing and farming, it’s more important than ever to be aware of the health dangers posed by ticks, she explains.

What is Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS)?

Bites from the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) or the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis, also called deer ticks) can trigger AGS. Alpha-gal is a sugar molecule found in most mammals. After eating mammalian meat, people who become allergic to alpha-gal may experience an hours-long delay in symptoms, which include hives, swelling of lips, face, tongue or throat, stomach pain and nausea, reports the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill . It can also cause restricted breathing and death.

deer_tick-Mizzou.jpg

(University of Missouri)

AGS diagnosis involves a combination of medical history, physical examination, allergy testing and symptom tracking.

Best Practices for Tick Prevention on the Farm

Although Lyme disease is treatable with antibiotics, there is currently no cure for AGS. Because of this, tick prevention is the best defense. Here are three tips for tick prevention

Dress to defend.
Ticks frequently attach to the lower legs of people and then crawl upward before embedding themselves in the skin to feed. They thrive in the humid, cool layer at the soil’s surface and often locate hosts using an ambush strategy known as “questing.”
The right choice of clothing can help you prevent you from picking up ticks, Althoff says. Choose light-colored garments. Tuck your shirt into your pants, and tuck your pants into your socks.

“This is where duct tape comes in handy,” she says. Duct tape the bottom of the pant legs closed to prevent ticks from getting to your skin.
Use DEET.
Always apply DEET-based insect repellent when visiting wooded areas or working on farms, says MU Extension health and safety specialist Karen Funkenbusch. Apply DEET only as directed to exposed skin or clothing. Avoid eyes, mouth, injured skin and children’s hands. Be careful not to inhale the product, and do not use it around food, she cautions. Wash treated skin and clothing thoroughly once you’re back indoors.
Search and destroy.
When you come inside after spending time in the outdoors, perform a full-body tick check. Look inside and behind the ears, along the hairline, the back of the neck, armpits, groin, legs, behind the knees and even between toes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends showering within two hours of being outdoors. If you find a tick, remove it with sturdy tweezers.

How to Safely Remove a Tick

Removing a tick can be challenging, but do not wait to go to a healthcare provider. Grasp the tick at the front of its body, as close to the skin as possible, and pull straight out. Avoid squeezing the rear of the tick, as this can cause it to expel gut contents into your skin, increasing the risk of infection. Clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, iodine or soap and water.

If you develop a rash or fever within several days to weeks after removing a tick, see your doctor.
Contrary to popular belief, CDC warns not to use petroleum jelly, heat, nail polish, or other substances to try and make the tick detach from the skin. This may agitate the tick and force infected fluid from the tick into the skin.

(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Avoid Tick Testing

People who have removed a tick may wonder if they should have it tested to see if it is infected. CDC says testing is not recommended, even though some commercial groups offer it.

“Laboratories that conduct tick testing are not required to have the high standards of quality control used by clinical diagnostic laboratories,” CDC shares on its website. “Results of tick testing should not be used for treatment decisions. Positive results showing that the tick contains a disease-causing organism do not necessarily mean that you have been infected.”

If you have been infected, CDC says you will probably develop symptoms before results of the tick test are available.

If you develop a rash or fever within several weeks of removing a tick, see your doctor. Learn more here.

Read More:
Researchers Close in on Alpha-Gal Syndrome Meat Allergy Mystery Linked to Ticks

How to Prevent Needlestick Injuries in Livestock Practice

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:30:04 GMT

Most injection injuries in food-animal practice never make it into an incident log. They happen, they sting and the work continues. But some of them are not minor. Some require urgent medical care, and recognizing which is which can prevent permanent damage.

Dr. Jeff Bender, veterinarian and director of the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center at the University of Minnesota, recently spoke on the significance of accidental self-injection as an underreported occupational hazard in livestock medicine. It can be common to continue working, assuming the exposure is harmless, but that assumption is not always correct.

Immediate Response: Slow Down and Assess

When a needlestick occurs, the first step is to stop. Do not finish the chute run. Do not assume it is minor.

Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and note the time of exposure. Identify the exact product involved, how much was injected and where. A superficial puncture through clothing is very different from a deep injection into a finger or thumb.

Bring the product bottle and label to medical care. Most physicians and emergency departments are unfamiliar with livestock pharmaceuticals. The clinical risk depends heavily on whether the product is oil-based, long-acting, hormonal, sedative or modified live.

As Bender emphasizes: “Make sure you grab the bottle, take this bottle with you to the urgent care or the clinic, and let them know this is what you got.”

Tetanus status should also be confirmed at the time of evaluation.

Certain exposures warrant immediate medical attention:

Oil-adjuvanted vaccines
Sedatives, such as xylazine
Hormonal products, such as prostaglandins

Further, if there is increasing pain, swelling, pallor or neurologic symptoms, medical attention is required. These are not wait-and-see injuries.

Not All Products Carry Equal Risk

The severity of a needlestick injury depends far more on the product than on the needle.

Oil-adjuvanted vaccines pose the greatest risk for local tissue damage. Oil-based products can trigger intense inflammatory reactions, increasing pressure within confined spaces like digits. Compartment syndrome, tissue necrosis and surgical intervention are real possibilities. Any digital injection with an oil-based vaccine should be treated as a potential surgical emergency until proven otherwise.

Sedatives present a different type of danger. Even small amounts absorbed systemically can lead to hypotension, respiratory depression, bradycardia or sudden collapse. Exposures involving sedatives warrant urgent evaluation and monitoring.

Bender shares a story highlighting how unpredictable animal behavior adds risk: “Recently, one of our residents had xylazine, and a rambunctious horse caused her to squirt it in her eye. She passed out, and luckily, she didn’t hit her head or anything.”

Hormonal products also deserve heightened caution. Prostaglandins and other reproductive hormones can have systemic effects and pose particular risk to pregnant individuals. What is a small dose for a cow can have meaningful physiologic consequences in a human.

Modified-live vaccines raise concerns about zoonotic potential depending on the organism involved, reinforcing the need for product-specific evaluation. Antibiotics and long-acting depot formulations are often underestimated. Allergic reactions, hypersensitivity and prolonged local inflammation are possible, particularly with depot products that extend tissue exposure time.

The guiding principle is simple: identify the compound before deciding the injury is minor.

Why Human Medicine May Struggle to Advise

Emergency physicians rarely encounter livestock vaccines or reproductive hormones. When a veterinarian or farm worker presents after an accidental injection, the provider may not know the formulation, adjuvant type or pharmacologic effect.

“Usually when I ask my physician colleagues this question… they really don’t have a clue,” Bender says.

Without clear product information, evaluation becomes guesswork.

This places veterinarians in the role of interpreter. Providing the exact product name, formulation and safety data sheet allows healthcare providers to assess risk accurately. Keeping that documentation accessible in clinic trucks or digital files is a simple and effective safeguard.

Prevention Starts Before the Stick

Injection injuries are often described as inevitable. In reality, many are predictable.

Fatigue at the end of processing days, poorly restrained animals and hurried recapping of needles are high-risk moments. Sedatives and oil-based vaccines deserve heightened procedural caution. For certain products, two-person administration may be appropriate.

Facility conditions also matter. Safe chutes, adequate lighting and readily available sharps containers reduce impulsive decision-making. A stocked first-aid kit everyone can locate is not optional. On many farms, especially those with newer employees or language barriers, safety training around injectable products may never have been formalized.

Risk reduction in this context does not require complex protocols. It requires intentional practice.

Key prevention points include:

Avoid recapping needles whenever possible
Ensure secure animal restraint before injection
Use appropriate needle length and gauge
Keep sharps containers accessible
Review high-risk drugs with staff before use

Take It Seriously

Food animal practice involves powerful pharmaceuticals administered in dynamic environments. Accidental injection is a predictable hazard of the profession.

The obligation is straightforward. Stop when it happens. Identify the product. Seek care when indicated. Build systems that reduce risk for the next time.

Needlestick injuries are not badges of experience. They are occupational exposures. And they deserve respect.

Tragic Turn: Trailer of Show Pigs Bursts Into Flames on I-80

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 20:41:05 GMT

With the windows rolled down and the sun on his face, Chad Rieck admits he was having a pretty good day driving down Interstate 80. He was pulling a trailer with four gilts, and one of those gilts was bringing home the title of Third Overall Purebred Breeding Gilt from the Aksarben Stock Show.

For Chad and his wife, Amy, spending precious time with their 17-year-old daughter Hollynn at a stock show is something they don’t take for granted. Their busy daughter, now a senior, was juggling the show weekend with homecoming, volleyball and dance team. Because of this, she drove separately to the show with her mom to squeeze in more of her school activities.

Separated by a couple minutes on the interstate, they were chatting on the phone keeping each other awake on the drive from Grand Island, Neb., back to their farm in Creston, Iowa. Suddenly, the traffic slowed down and their day took a tragic turn.

A car burning alongside I-80 held up traffic for miles.

(NDOT)

Igniting the Fire

“I remember my wife saying, ‘Traffic is starting to get bad,’” Rieck recalls. “I told her there was an accident up ahead and we’d get through it eventually.”

When he came upon the scene, he discovered a car burning alongside the road. By this time, he had rolled up his windows and slowly drove by the car. No emergency vehicles were on the scene, so Chad estimates the fire had probably started within three to five minutes of when he passed it.

“The front of the car was fully engulfed in flames,” Rieck describes. “The driver’s portion to the back of the car was starting to get hot – hot, hot flames. My fear of driving by was, ‘What if there’s a gas tank there, and that gas tank blows? That’s going to be bad.’”

When he drove by, something burst.

“It wasn’t the gas tank that blew, but something, whether it was a fuel line, a tire or whatever, blew a ‘poof’ of flames,” he says.

About a mile after he passed the car on fire – maybe one or two minutes at most – Rieck noticed smoke rolling out of the trailer. At first, he thought maybe some smoke from the fire got in through the open trailer windows. Then, he wondered if he blew a tire.

“I’m looking in the mirrors checking for that and continually rolling,” he says. “I see a semi behind me begin to flash his lights at me. That’s when I thought, ‘Okay, I’ve got problems.’”

Fortunately, he was coming upon an exit ramp. He jumped off the interstate and threw the truck in park as soon as he could.

“My wife’s still on the phone with me at this point,” he says. “I jump out of the truck and see the trucker running up with a couple of fire extinguishers. Because of him, I was able to get the back doors opened on the trailer. We got most of the flames down but didn’t have enough to get the fire completely out.”

When he opened the door, he saw that their banner-winning Poland China gilt was already dead, but the three other pigs were hanging on to life.

“The Poland gilt was on the back of the trailer and had somehow broken out of her pen trying to get away,” he says.

The burning trailer was caught on camera by the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT).

(NDOT)

Roadside Rescue

The fire picked up again as he tried to figure out how to get the pigs off the trailer.

“When I parked the trailer at the show, we left some tack in the trailer. So, I locked the ramp and the driver side walk-through door,” he explains. “I ran to get the key that I thought was in the truck, but there was no key there. Now, I’m just frantic.”

With no way to get to the three pigs still on the trailer, he grabbed for the big cart they hauled tack with that was standing upright in the back pen.

“Not a smart deal,” Rieck recalls. “I grabbed it with my hand, and now I’ve got some nice blisters. But even if I could have moved that cart, it wouldn’t have mattered. I had to get the pigs out the side ramp.”

The trucker ran back with a crowbar and Rieck broke the latches off the ramp door to get the ramp down. Flames greeted him. He was running out of options. He ran around to the other side’s ramp, broke that latch off and ended up getting two pigs out.

“The third pig was scared and wouldn’t come out, so I had to reach in through one of the sides to push her out,” he says. “I ended up with some burns on my arm from that, but I finally got her out.”

At this point, the trailer is still on fire. The trucker told Rieck to unhook his truck and pull it away from the trailer now that the pigs were out.

“I would have never thought of doing that,” he adds. “We had a gas can and small generator in the tack room of the trailer, so I went to work to get that out of there before we had an even bigger problem. Fortunately, the tack room was in decent shape, likely because there was a door between it and the main part of the trailer.”

Once the fire truck arrived, they focused on the trailer first. Megan Hobbs says she was able to gather buckets from the tack room to start filling to get to water all three pigs who were alive at the time. Unfortunately, they lost the Duroc, so they had to turn their focus to the remaining two.

(Megan Hobbs)

Meanwhile, people began showing up and helping with the pigs that were now scattered.

“I had one pig walking down the exit ramp,” Rieck says. “Meanwhile, one gilt was hunkered down under a tree in the ditch and the third was dying alongside the exit ramp. I’m in shock at this point – walking around and asking myself why.”

Stock show people he had never met before like Joe and Megan Hobbs of Newton, Kan., turned around and came back to help.

“As soon as we arrived at the scene, there was another young lady who worked for Legacy Livestock Imaging that had also stopped to help,” explains Megan Hobbs. “We immediately just jumped into action getting any and all water available to help cool the pigs down. At the beginning all we had was cooler water and water bottles. In those situations you don’t ask for permission, you just go with what your gut tells you to do.”

(Chad Rieck)

A Little Bit Ironic

When the York Fire Department showed up, they quickly went to work extinguishing the fire in the trailer. Hobbs says she kept running water back and forth from the firetruck to the people caring for the gilts alongside the road.

“God put us in the right place at the right time,” Hobbs says. “We trusted our gut turning around to go help as we just knew it was probably one of our own from the livestock industry that needed help.”

The firefighters on the scene also reached out to a firefighter in a nearby department, David May, who had show pigs.

“I received a call from dispatch when I was about 5 miles from my farm heading home with pigs from the show,” May says. “They said there was a vehicle fire involving a trailer with larger pigs and asked if I could help wrangle and haul the surviving pigs. Of course, I didn’t hesitate and was already on the move.”

May devised a plan to get his pigs off his trailer quickly and navigate through the piled-up interstate traffic.

“I had my 16-year-old daughter Braxtyn with me, so we began talking through things on the drive there,” May says. “I even joked with her, ‘It’s probably someone who kicked our butt today.’ But that didn’t cause either of us to hesitate to help however possible.”

When May got to the scene, he immediately recognized the pickup. It had been parked directly beside his truck during loadout about 45 minutes ago.

“I recognized the people and confirmed I didn’t know them,” May says. “I parked and walked up to assess and gather information. Within a minute, another Iowa trailer showed up to get the live hogs. We discussed what to do with the now two deceased pigs. I offered to put them on my trailer and dispose.”

After all the pigs were on trailers and the firefighters had inspected Rieck’s trailer to confirm it was safe to haul home, Rieck went over to talk to Braxtyn and thank her for coming to help.

Hollynn Rieck’s Champion Poland and Third Overall Purebred Breeding Gilt at Aksarben.

(Legacy Livestock Imaging)

“For some reason, I wanted to try to cheer this kid up who had just seen this devastation,” Rieck says. “I tried to distract her by asking if she showed a pig that day, and she said, ‘Yes, I was third place with my Poland gilt.’”

It was definitely a little ironic, both dads admit. Their kids had been competing against each other just a few hours earlier. They loaded their pigs up beside each other and took off about the same time. As they got back into their trucks and trailers for the second time that day, they both spent some time reflecting on their drive home.

A Case of Bad Luck

Hollynn drove her dad back in the truck and trailer because he was still in shock. All Rieck could think about was what he could have done differently.

“I saw a number of trailers roll right on by as we stood there with the trailer smoldering,” Rieck says. “I know the next time I see a car fire, I’m going to feel like Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights. I’m going to be like, ‘Don’t drive through it.’ Maybe I could have gotten in the ditch more, but that’s not safe either.”

It was the kind of incident that you could never predict, May says. Typically, a trailer fire starts with a bad wheel bearing, then the wheel gets hot or locks up. Eventually, the tire catches on fire and results in heavy black smoke that’s easily visible.

(Chad Rieck)

“Most livestock trailer fires start on the outside of the trailer,” May says. “But this fire started inside the trailer. This was a completely freak accident.”

The odds of something hot coming off the car at the precise moment Rieck drove by while also entering the trailer is one in trillions, he adds.

“It’s a bad-luck lottery. It could never have been predicted,” May says. “But, just like so many instances in life, you just have to react and adapt as plans change.”

Still, Rieck says he learned some valuable lessons going through this experience. He will make sure his next trailer has fire extinguishers. He won’t travel with his doors locked on his trailer. He’s also going to invest in some wireless cameras to put into his trailer.

Stock Show Support

When they returned home, a veterinarian confirmed the gilts who survived the trailer fire needed to be euthanized, as their injuries were too severe. Rieck says it was hard on Hollynn to walk through an empty pig barn the next day. Although it’s not an uncommon thing, as every show season comes to an end, this was not the ending she expected. She had high hopes of taking the Poland gilt to the American Royal in a few weeks.

Hollynn won Champion Poland China Gilt and Third Overall Purebred Breeding Gilt at Aksarben.

(Amy Rieck)

For Rieck, the hardest part was calling the breeders who leased them the gilts and telling them what happened.

“The personal financial portion of this isn’t much compared to having to contact those breeders and let them know about the fire,” Rieck says. “We work with Hunter Langholff to get some of our pigs. I can only imagine what the conversation was like with me screaming and yelling about the pigs right after it happened. I’ll never forget Hunter calmly saying, ‘Do not worry about that. These breeders will only care that you, Hollynn and Amy are fine. Pigs can be replaced.’”

With a few tears in his eyes, Rieck says he never wants to take his stock show friends for granted.

“Stock show people are pretty special,” he adds. “Because guess what? We all wanted to win that day. We raise our kids in the show ring and in the show barn for a reason. It’s so we can be around these people. My daughter is going to be a much stronger person because of the experiences that she’s had winning and losing in the show ring and yes, even going through this trailer fire.”

Hollynn says she’s already learned a lot from the fire.

“I am so thankful for all of the people who stopped to help us during our emergency,” she says. “This is living proof that the stock show industry is the best thing to be a part of. The amount of love, thoughts and prayers I have received from people has been astronomical. At the end of the day, I am just grateful my family is ok and that I will forever be a part of such an amazing industry.”

As May reflects on what happened, he says he’s not surprised by the overwhelming support people provided to the Rieck family.

“It’s what we do for each other in all aspects of agriculture, not just livestock,” May says. “I’m glad I was able to assist as needed here and glad my daughter was able to see value in helping others even when it’s not always pretty fairy dust and rainbows.”

Protect Yourself from Hidden Carbon Monoxide Dangers

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 16:13:58 GMT

Odorless. Colorless. With few to no warning signs, carbon monoxide is a danger that everyone needs to look out for -- in your home or in your barn.

When carbon monoxide levels are high enough to cause harm, you may not even realize what’s happening. This gas interferes with the body’s ability to use oxygen and can result in death or lasting organ damage.

“High levels of carbon monoxide are dangerous for everyone,” says Mitch Ricketts, an agriculture safety and health professor at Kansas State University.

Even low levels of the gas can be hazardous for children, the elderly, unborn babies and people with heart conditions, he says in a K-State release .

“Respiratory hazards are among the most dangerous of all hazards found in pork production facilities. While people and animals can live days without food and water, they can survive only seconds without air. Preventing exposure to respiratory hazards is extremely important for both employees and employers,” according to the Pork Information Gateway’s Respiratory Hazards sheet .

Carbon monoxide is usually produced by fuel-burning appliance being used indoors. This includes small equipment such as lawn mowers, power washers, heaters and generators, but also automobiles, tractors, combines, skid-steer loaders and forklifts.

“Carbon monoxide levels are dangerous even if they are low enough to not displace oxygen,” Ricketts says. “A carbon monoxide detector is the only way to know when levels are dangerous.”

Warning Signs
In high concentrations of carbon monoxide, it can take fewer than five minutes to get carbon monoxide poisoning. Under lower concentrations, it can take an hour to two hours to cause poisoning, according to the Cleveland Clinic .

Early warning signs of carbon monoxide poisoning may include:

Dizziness
Headache
Nausea
Sleepiness
Fainting (loss of consciousness)
Mental Confusion
Tightness or pain in the chest

If you are exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide, seek a doctor immediately. If a person collapses and carbon monoxide is suspected, call 911.

Treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning is breathing in pure oxygen, the Cleveland Clinic shares. A healthcare provider will give you an oxygen mask to breathe through. This will offset the carbon monoxide buildup in your body.

Ricketts says that to protect yourself and others, proper maintenance of equipment and providing outdoor venting can reduce risk. Carbon monoxide detectors should be installed if fuel-burning equipment is used indoors to prevent hazardous exposure.

It's Hot Out There: Avoid Heat Stroke and Heat Exhaustion This Summer

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 18:51:58 GMT

As the temperatures begin to soar, we all know farm and ranch work never stops, even in the hot weather.

“Wear lightweight, long-sleeved, light-colored clothing, or a cooling vest and take short, frequent breaks in a shaded or cool area to stay cool while working outdoors,” says Tawnie Larson, a program manager in Kansas State University’s Carl and Melinda Helwig Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering and the Kansas Agriculture Safety and Health Program.

She says technical cooling vests “are essentially like wearing air conditioning.”

“The vests use specialized fabric and fibers to circulate cooling products to keep body temperatures low during hot days,” she explains.

Larson also suggests using equipment with a canopy, such as a Rollover Protection Structure (ROPS) with a sunshade.

“Usually, the ROPS with canopies cannot be folded down, which in turn provides more safety for operators because the ROPS is always activated,” Larson says. “Equipment that has an enclosed cab often times comes with air conditioning and has a built-in ROPS. Both of these options provide safety from rollovers and can help prevent heat-related illness.”

Because each individual reacts to hot days different, it’s important to listen to your body, Larson says. Take frequent breaks and stay inside during the hottest part of the day if possible.

“Medication may also play a role in affecting one’s body’s ability to stay cool, making it harder to handle the heat,” Larson says. “Before working outside this summer, check with your doctor to see if you’re at higher risk for heat-related illness and whether you should take extra-precautions due to medication.”

Is it Heat Stroke or Heat Exhaustion?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends drinking 1 cup of water every 15-20 minutes, and before becoming thirsty. The CDC also recommends keeping sugary and alcoholic drinks to a minimum. Replace salt and minerals with snacks or a sports drink.

Heat stroke symptoms include high body temperature; hot, dry, red or damp skin; fast, strong pulse; headache; dizziness; nausea; confusion; and lack of consciousness.

If a person is suffering from heat stroke:

Call 9-1-1 immediately.
Move the person to a cooler place.
Lower the person’s temperature with cooler clothes.
Do not give the person anything to drink.

“Heat exhaustion is different and usually not as serious,” Larson says.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion may include:

heavy sweating
cold, pale and clammy skin
fast, weak pulse
nausea
tiredness
headache
fainting

“If this occurs, take action by moving to a cool place, loosen clothing, get cool, sip water and seek medical attention if symptoms last longer than an hour or get worse,” Larson says.

Your Next Read: Protect Your Pigs With Summer Beat-the-Heat Prep Tips

Top 3 Dangers on Your Hog Farm: How to Protect Yourself From Injury

Thu, 15 May 2025 18:44:44 GMT

Although working on a farm can be an incredibly rewarding line of work, there’s no denying it can also be incredibly dangerous. Accidents on the farm can happen to anyone – regardless of the employee’s experience level.

Between 2021-2022, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports there were 21,020 injuries in agricultural production that required days away from work. However, there is a well-known underreporting of injuries in the agricultural industry, says Samantha Wolfe, ag and occupational health educator with Michigan State University Extension.

“At the national level, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) exempts employers with 10 or fewer employees, including most small farms, from routine injury and illness recordkeeping. However, all employers must report serious incidents such as fatalities, in-patient hospitalizations, amputations or losses of an eye to OSHA, regardless of size,” she says. “That’s part of why those numbers are so vastly underreported.”

When it comes to swine operations, she says the majority of personal injuries stem from lifting heavy loads. However, repeated exposure to high decibels, particulate matter and airborne contaminants can develop into chronic conditions such as respiratory illness or hearing impairment.

(National Pork Board and the Pork Checkoff)

Many of these risks can be mitigated with proper safety measures and consistent use of personal protective equipment (PPE), Wolfe says.

Here are three ways you can minimize personal injury on the swine farm.

1. Use safe lifting techniques.
Lifting and hauling heavy loads can build strength when done with proper technique, but doing so incorrectly may lead to injuries or contribute to long-term damage to joints and muscles.

“Lift within your limits,” Wolfe says. “Don’t reach, ensure firm footing and balance, stand as close as possible to the load and lift from the knees and core rather than your back. Be sure your path is clear of slip or trip hazards. Avoid bending or twisting the upper body while carrying. When setting the load down, bend from the knees and hips rather than the back.”

Don’t be afraid to ask for help when lifting heavy loads, she adds. If no one is available to help you, there are specialized tools that can be used on pig farms. Whether that’s a specialized mortality cart or a radio-controlled hog-sorting gate, Wolfe encourages pork producers to check out AgrAbility’s assistive technology database .

2. Monitor air quality.
From airborne microorganisms to endotoxins, a variety of particulates exist in the air in livestock barns. Wolfe says their presence and persistence vary based on ambient outdoor temperatures, humidity and atmospheric pressure.

“Air quality is a key consideration in any work setting that is enclosed, dusty, hazy or contains manure or other strong odors,” she explains. “Poor air quality in these environments can lead to irritation of the mucous membranes, acute or chronic bronchitis, occupational asthma and other respiratory conditions.”

Of course, ventilation plays a key role in the modern hog barn and ensures better air quality for employees and pigs when working properly. You can also minimize dust in the barn by switching from ground to pelleted feed, Wolfe adds.

“During a recent farm visit, the owners had just made the switch from ground feed to pelleted feed. They agreed that it was easier to breathe in there,” she says.

(National Pork Board and the Pork Checkoff)

It’s good idea to wear a mask. Masks have become a ‘hot-button issue’ in the last five years, but Wolfe says wearing an N-95 mask, or even a dust mask, can be helpful for anyone spending a lot of time in the barn.

For those with prolonged exposure to barn air, a properly fitted respirator provides even more protection. Respirators were once thought of as a clunky, inconvenient helmet-style piece of equipment, but modern versions have evolved significantly, she says. Many now weigh less than 1 lb., rest comfortably behind the head and feature negative pressure-activated filtration systems that allow for extended wear in high-risk environments.

3. Protect your ears.
Loud noises in the work area, whether from machinery at the farm or large groups of pigs in the barn, can cause more than just momentary discomfort, Wolfe says. Consistent exposure to high decibel levels can contribute to long-term impacts such as noise-induced hearing loss.

Pigs can produce sound levels ranging from 100 dBA to 115 dBA, well above the safe threshold, especially for more than a few minutes. It’s not possible to avoid exposure to these high-decibel sounds, so wearing PPE consistently is crucial. Well-fitted earplugs or earmuffs should be worn correctly every time you’re in a high-noise environment to reduce long-term hearing risks, she says.

“Disposable earplugs make a big difference,” Wolfe says. “They block up to about 35 decibels and can really take the edge off.”

(National Pork Board and the Pork Checkoff)

Pay Attention to Yourself
Jim Kober, a veterinarian with West Michigan Livestock Consulting, LLC, says he hears about back injuries the most in sow barns that occur from removing dead and downer sows. He also says needle sticks from vaccinating sows and or pigs is another common injury. Meanwhile, in the finisher, more of the injuries are related to loading market pigs, impacting the knees in particular.

“It’s important to wear good quality shoes,” Kober says. “Cheap rubber boots do not give good foot support when you are wearing them all day.”

Kober encourages producers to have the correct equipment for the particular job at hand. It’s also a good idea to rotate job duties to avoid repetitive movement injuries.

“You don’t have to work through discomfort,” Wolfe adds. “There are ways to accommodate yourself in the tasks you’re doing to make things more comfortable for yourself. Sometimes that is as simple as wearing earplugs.”

With phones within reach nearly all day long, Wolfe points out some apps that can help, too. From attaching a meter to your phone for air quality monitoring in an app to using an app to measure sound levels, these tools can help bring more accuracy to what you think is happening in the barn.

“It can really change your quality of life to pay a little more attention to yourself,” she says. “It’s okay to ask for help, to work with others or talk about what you might be struggling with.”

Your Next Read: Kids on the Farm: Don’t Take Your Eyes Off Safety

Toenail Clippings Of Farmers Needed For Chemical Exposure Research

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 14:06:18 GMT

Iowa farmers, get out your toenail clippers! Anna Proctor, a University of Iowa (UI) Ph.D. student, is collecting samples for a study she will conduct later this year using Iowa farmers’ toenails.

Proctor says the nail clippings will help assess farmers’ exposure to arsenic, pesticides and other chemicals.

“I’m trying to see what kinds of chemicals have built up in farmers’ bodies as a result of them doing their job. Farming is a super diverse occupation and there’s a lot of occupational demands that may change daily,” Proctor says. “This can result in a lot of exposures to multiple contamination sources, and these contaminates can be stored in the body.”

Essentially, Proctor wants to take an inventory of pollutants found in farmer’s bodies, using toenails as a biomarker.

Why toenails? Toenails can provide a 6- to 9-month record of a person’s exposure to the contaminants. They’re also easier to collect, handle and store than blood or urine, the typical samples used to determine environmental exposure.

“Toenails are a great noninvasive biomarker,” Proctor explains. “They measure long-term exposure rather than acute. They are stable so they’re easy to transport and store. They aren’t biohazardous material.”

Not to mention, cutting toenails is something most people do and it doesn’t require any medical expertise, she adds.

Why Farmers?

This project was created because Proctor wants to focus her career on improving the health of farmers.

“If the results of my dissertation show us what farmers in Iowa are being exposed to, we can better understand how to protect against those exposures,” she says. “To go about doing that, you need to know what the specific contaminates being built up are so you can have tailored remediation approaches to mitigate exposures to chemicals that are believed to be health hazards.”

In addition to Iowa being the nation’s top producer of corn, hogs and eggs, some parts of the state, in particular the north central region, have high levels of naturally occurring arsenic in groundwater that may be tapped for drinking water, researchers explain in an Iowa City Press-Citizen article. Highly toxic, arsenic has been tied to prostate and other cancers as well as to conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease and neurological disorders.

Although this research is starting in Iowa, Proctor believes it can be expanded.

“I want the work I’m doing now in Iowa to eventually be used on a larger scale. Since different states have different types of agricultural practices and production, I think it could be interesting to see how farmers’ contaminant profiles across the U.S. compare with each other,” she says. “However, I think it’s important to start small and prove that you have effective scientific methods before expanding to something larger.”

Proctor, who most recently worked inside Iowa hog confinements for her master’s thesis, hopes this research will provide Iowa farmers with information that could help them better protect their health.

^{Anna Proctor says this is an easy study to participate in. Photo provided by Anna Proctor.}

“I come from a family of farmers and ranchers and I take this work really seriously,” Proctor says. “Farmers are typically not at the forefront of the country’s mind, which is unfortunate considering how much work and dedication goes into food production.”

She genuinely hopes the work she produces will provide a launch point to identify further areas of research to better protect and promote farmers’ health.

“I want farmers to know that agricultural research efforts are alive and well and researchers respect and want to protect farmers, agricultural workers and members of the food production system,” Proctor adds.

Clipping Toenails Is Easy

Farmers are busy and it’s hard to pull them away from the farm. That’s one of the reasons why toenail clippings are a great way to look at exposure to chemicals.

“You don’t need to be a medical professional to cut your toenails,” Proctor says.

Information gathered will be pooled so individuals’ identity will be protected. Proctor expects the study to take about a year and she plans to provide participants with an overview of the results.

In the study’s next phase, a more targeted group of farmer participants would be recruited to gather more details about their health, lifestyle, farming practices and livestock production.

That work, which isn’t expected to begin for another year or more, could begin to provide answers about farmers’ risk for disease.

How to Join In

Iowa farmers interested in participating in the study should email Anna Proctor at arproctor@uiowa.edu and she will provide a kit that includes a clipper, bag for returning the nail clippings, and a short questionnaire. Proctor expects it will take about 10 minutes for farmers to provide the sample.

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Kids on the Farm: Don’t Take Your Eyes Off Safety

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 01:01:31 GMT

About every three days, a child dies in an agriculture-related incident, and each day, at least 33 children are injured. During the past decade, youth worker fatalities in agriculture have exceeded all other industries combined.

Although the rate of non-fatal injuries to children in agriculture has dropped since the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety was established in 1997, agriculture remains hazardous for children and youth, explained Barbara Lee, director of the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety .

“We’ve come a long way,” Lee told AgriTalk’s Chip Flory. “We had really good injury data for about 12 years, and it shows the rate of injuries declined by about 60%. The rate of fatalities of children dying in farm accidents has stayed fairly steady, however, despite the decline in the number of farms and number of kids on farms. I think the most revealing thing is that for both injuries and deaths, more than half of them occur to kids who are not working – they are just bystanders in the farm environment.”

Lee said this is where the industry needs to keep its focus.

“Certainly, we want to protect the kids who are working. We believe work is good for them, inherently valuable. For kids working in agriculture, it’s really important to match the child and the child’s characteristics with the work at hand,” Lee said.

But it’s also important to keep a close eye on kids who stop by the farm or find themselves part of the farming background.

Be on Watch

“We’re entering into a dangerous time of the year for farm families,” Flory said. He asked Lee to share some of the biggest safety concerns right now.

She said the greatest number of deaths for young people are related to accidents with tractors, skid steers, moving implements and other forms of transportation.

“It’s really important that we factor in the dangers and the ability of a child to really handle machinery. I always think about when things go wrong, will the child be able to handle it? Bad weather? Equipment failure? Is the child mature enough to handle when things go wrong?”

She also encouraged parents to remember to parents first and farmers second. She said that means adopting the principles of safety for all kids.

“I can’t state it often enough about the little ones who really should not be in the work environment,” Lee said. “When you’re working, you have got to focus on the work. With nearly every child who was injured or killed on a farm, there’s an adult nearby. It’s not they aren’t supervised, but farming can get complicate and little kids are unpredictable.”

Reflecting on 25 Years

On May 19, the center will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a free webinar. Speakers will include Lee, Marsha Salzwedel, project scientist and agricultural youth safety specialist at the National Children’s Center; Marilyn Adams, founder, Farm Safety 4 Just Kids; Dennis Murphy, professor emeritus, Penn State University; and Jana Davidson, program manager, Progressive Agriculture Foundation.

“This anniversary has really given us time to reflect back at how this all got started, what has changed in our work, and what’s changed in the workers and work environment for children. There’s a lot of good things happening and a few challenges still ahead of us,” Lee said.

Learn more and sign up for the free webinar.

Read More:

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6 Farm Safety Tips for Non-Working Children

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 14:56:08 GMT

By Jacob Klaudt, K-State Research and Extension news service

When thinking about farm safety for kids, Tawnie Larson, a project consultant for the Kansas Agriculture Safety and Health program at Kansas State University, splits children into two categories: working and non-working.

Parents train, supervise and provide proper protective equipment to ensure their working children’s safety, and likewise, need to take precautions for the well-being of their younger, non-working kids.

“Higher injury and fatality rates related to large farm equipment are seen in that demographic (younger, non-working kids),” Larson said. “If there are no physical barriers around machinery or proper communication about hazards in the area, (adults) must take special care to keep them safe and away from harm.”

During farming season, parents and older children may all be needed in the field, yet Larson said there is still a need for supervision of the younger, non-working children.

“Sometimes, parents have no choice and they take their children harvesting in a combine, for example,” she said. “In that environment, there is dust and debris in the air, a constant loud noise and the vibration of the machine, which may be harmful to infants and other small children. Producers should provide ear, eye and respiratory protection for everyone in the field, especially our little ones.”

She adds: “Parents should especially be concerned with the vibration because we don’t know what that does to their brains and their bodies while they’re in a cab for hours at a time. We know it’s hard to find childcare, but there should be an alternative that isn’t in a piece of working farm equipment. “

Larson’s recommended approaches for the safety of non-working children:

1. Create safe play and recreation areas far from hazards like equipment sheds, water sources, chemicals and livestock.

2. Provide children with blaze orange/yellow safety equipment and clothing to increase their visibility.

3. Outline unsafe areas for non-working visitors to the farm when they arrive.

4. Wait until children are six years or older to engage in farm tasks.

5. Keep non-working children out of tractor cabs and other large equipment.

6. Find childcare off the farm – older siblings, grandparents or trusted members of the community – when potentially dangerous activities are happening.

How to Keep Farm Kids Out of Danger

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 11:39:31 GMT

Every day, 33 serious injuries involving children occur on a farm or ranch in the United States, according to the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety.

The leading cause of injury and death for all ages on farms is large equipment. That’s why Tawnie Larson, a project consultant for the Kansas Agriculture Safety and Health program at Kansas State University, urges farm and ranch owners to allow only youth with proper training and experience to drive large equipment.

“Farm kids do things like drive tractors all the time, which may be not too challenging for some,” she said in a K-State release . “The issue is that, cognitively, they are not prepared to safely handle a situation where something goes wrong, and that’s how major accidents happen.”

Her advice to adults is simple. Demonstrate how to do things safely when children are young. Then, as they get older, take them to formal tractor safety trainings.

“Safety starts before kids hop up into a tractor’s cab,” Larson said in the release.

It’s important for parents to determine their child’s capacity to work beforehand by their mental – not physical – maturity.

“Just because a kid is taller or bigger doesn’t mean they are more developed mentally than others. You can send out older, stronger kids to work, and they might have issues following instructions or rules you’ve set and injure themselves. Farm kids aren’t mini-adults; they might physically look capable, but that does not always translate to completing a job safely,” she said.

Avert accidents and injuries on the farm by providing specialized equipment and implementing safety strategies that keep children focused on the job at hand.

“They can install a ROPS (rollover protection structure) device to tractors without cabs, to keep children out of harm in case of a machine tipping over. Kids who wear their seatbelts will also be more secure in a situation like that,” Larson noted. “I would also remove any distractions like their phones, loud music and friends riding with them while they are driving equipment.”

Although modern tractors typically have a “buddy” seat that an additional passenger can sit in for training purposes, Larson reminds producers not to exceed the number of passengers recommended for a vehicle.

“One of the biggest safety issues is having extra riders – especially in a tractor without a cab. Just say no to additional people because there have been many injuries and fatalities where a child with no place to sit is held while driving,” she said in the release.

Actions Speak Loudest
It’s common for children to follow the example of the older people around them. When it comes to farm safety, actions off speak louder than words. Larson recommends that parents become proper role models to teach their children farm safety.

“In general, farm safety is an attitude and a habit, not something that you remember to do,” she said in the release. “Parents need to create this attitude and habit in their daily life for children to model. If you find yourself using the common expression, ‘Do as I say, Not as I do,’ you are doing safety wrong.”

Parents need to display safe behaviors and explain to their children why, she added in the release.

“Model the job, show them how to do it, watch them do it safety and then provide further advice as needed,” she said. “If you create a good, safe environment, fewer bad things will happen.”

Farm safety materials and a list of age-appropriate tasks are available online through Cultivate Safety, a website from the National Farm Medicine Center .

Read more:
One Family’s Tragedy Sparks Nationwide Farm Safety Project
Kids on the Farm: Don’t Take Your Eyes Off Safety

Stop the “If Only This Would Happen” Game Now

Tue, 07 May 2024 21:09:35 GMT

You need to do what you need to do to make your life better. Is it really that simple? Ted Matthews, a mental health practitioner with Rural Minnesota Mental Health Support , told AgriTalk’s Chip Flory that far too many people hear mental health and immediately think mental illness.

For many farmers that Matthews talks to, it’s “not that bad.” Farmers say they can handle the stress, Matthews says. This works until it doesn’t.

“We’re constantly pressured into this concept that it has to get to a certain point before we take care of ourselves,” Matthews explains. “And that’s absolutely stupid.”

Instead, farmers need to take care of themselves now, so they don’t have to worry about going down that road later.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Not only is it a time to address the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental health conditions, but it’s also a reminder to take care of your mental health.

“Everybody’s different,” Matthews says. What drives one farmer crazy may not phase another farmer at all. He encourages people to take a step back when stress sets in and evaluate what’s under their control and what’s not.

“We can’t control the water. We can’t control the sun. We can’t control a lot of different things,” he says. “But we can focus on the things we can control. That will give us enough energy to get those things done. Far too often I see people get so wrapped up in all the things that they can’t do, that they end up not doing the things they can do because they’re so stressed.

Knowledge, however, doesn’t always result in the stress going away.

“Just because I know something, doesn’t mean I’m not going to get stressed,” he explains. “That’s something that we always need to look at. I always tell people, be nice. Take care of yourself. Do what you need to do to make your life better.”

Click here to download the eBook “Your Guide to Mental Health.”

Matthews says if you want to be more supportive of a farmer, say, “It must be really hard,” and let them tell you how they’re feeling about it. Don’t tell them what they should feel. Let them tell you what they do feel.

Everyone is always racing around like they’re at the Indy 500, he adds.

“I’m not saying it’s not important to get the crop in, but if you can take an extra half hour to have a cup of coffee, take an extra 10 minutes to talk to your wife or your kids or both, it will help,” Matthews says. “Take care of that end so it does not become an overwhelming stressor.”

Remember that your thoughts matter. When stress sets in, ask yourself these questions:
-What can I do to make life better?
-How can I listen better?
-How can I take care of myself better?
-How can I look at my mental health in a way that says, ‘I’m feeling better, and if I’m not, I’m responsible to make myself feel better.’

It’s time to stop waiting on others to step in, he adds.

“If only they would do this. If this happened, then I would (fill in the blank),” Matthews says. “Stop thinking those thoughts because we have no control over them. Focus on the things you do have control over, and you’re going to be a healthier person.”

Read More:

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Toxic Grit: Is Our Greatest Strength Our Greatest Weakness on the Farm?

Stress: Action is Key

Farmers, Ranchers Have Ways to Manage Stress

Suicide Prevention: Your Worth Isn’t Measured By The Markets

Don’t Let Social Distancing Lead to Social Isolation

Connect With Farmers In-Person On Mental Health

Simple, Daily Habits to Help Manage Stress

Pay Attention to Warning Signs of Stress

When Your Trampoline Breaks: Avoid Isolation

7 Steps to Reduce Farm and Financial Stress

How and Why to Laugh, Even When it’s Hard

Watch for Signs of Suicidal Risk on Your Farm

Wild Pigs Kill More People Than Sharks, Shocking New Research Reveals

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 14:43:28 GMT

Hogzilla or Jaws? More humans are killed annually by wild pigs than by sharks, a startling new study reveals. By slice, puncture, hook, and gouge, the global number of fatalities from wild pig attacks is rising by the decade.

Between 2014 and 2023, the average yearly number of fatal shark attacks worldwide was 5.8, while the average number of fatal wild pig attacks was 19.7. In 2024 alone, there have already been seven deaths from wild pig incidents.

According to groundbreaking research published in 2023, the number of humans killed by wild pig attacks steadily climbed from 2000 to 2019, for a total of 172 deaths—including a freakishly grisly fatality in southeast Texas.

“Most of the public doesn’t know the facts about wild pig attacks on humans,” says John J. Mayer, lead author of the study and wild pig research pioneer. “It’s not sharks, wolves, or bears that kill the most people—it’s wild pigs, and the numbers are consistently trending up.”

1,532 Attacks and 172 Deaths

In 1973, well before the global pig bomb exploded, Mayer began noting wild pigs’ capacity for habitat destruction. At a steady drip, he also heard anecdotes of pig attacks on humans. Although many of the stories initially could not be verified, by the 1990s Mayer accumulated a folder bulging with confirmed encounters, and in 2013, he published research detailing wild pig attacks.

(Farm Journal)

The public reaction to his findings surprised Mayer: “I got a significant number of negative responses from people who refused to believe wild pigs were dangerous. I had people telling me the stories of attacks on humans were pure nonsense. Interestingly, if you asked those same people about sharks, they would, to a person, say that sharks are dangerous.”

A decade later, after collating a global dragnet of sources with colleagues James Garabedian and John Kilgo, both USDA wildlife biologists, Mayer published Human Fatalities Resulting From Wild Pig Attacks Worldwide: 2000–2019 , and the report is packed with eye-opening detail: 1,532 wild pig attacks on humans from 2000-2019, resulting in 172 human deaths in 29 countries.

Of the 172 fatalities, 88% occurred in non-hunting circumstances; 77% of victims died due to blood loss; 86% of attacks occurred in daylight; 84% of victims were male and 62% of victims were adults; 38% of attacks involved farm workers engaged in agriculture; almost all attacks were by solitary pigs, except for 20 encounters featuring multiple pigs; and average pig size in each incident was 240 lb.

(Farm Journal)

“Tigers, Indian elephants, Nile crocodiles, and venomous snakes kill more people than wild pigs, but wild pigs are certainly worse than bears, wolves, and all shark species put together,” says Mayer, technical program manager at the Savannah River National Laboratory in Aiken, S.C. “Wild pigs are nowhere near the worst of the worst, but they’re far more dangerous than people believe.”

“These attacks can be horrific,” Mayer adds. “Typically, wild pigs don’t bother anyone if they don’t feel threatened, but they can deliver tremendous damage to the human body in a matter of seconds in a very gruesome manner. We found that in fatal attacks, 55% of people died on the scene. A wild pig is at the waist to knee range for most humans, and when pigs slash in that area, they do tremendous damage to the arterial system.”

Sincerely. Boars deliver stab-and-slash wounds, often around the groin area, with tusks that operate as nails and razors.

7x Predatory

Boar tusks are extremely sharp, with 60-70% of a canine enclosed in the jaw and roughly 1”-4” outside the socket. The upper and lower tusks rub against one another each time a boar opens and closes its mouth, honing the lower tusks into cutters via a perpetual sharpening process.

(Farm Journal)

“Boars punch holes with their tusks, making rough-edged slashes and gouges,” Mayer describes. “They can also break bones with a powerful bite. Sows have smaller tusks, proportionally almost like dogs, so a sow tends to bite, rather than stab or slash. Therefore, most fatal attacks are by males with large canines, and often to the inner leg and femoral artery. On top of that, they can run in short bursts up to 30 to 35 miles per hour.”

Mayer’s benchmark report makes clear that almost all fatal wild pig attacks are associated with defensive behaviors. However, he documented seven attacks “during which the pig’s behaviors appeared to be predatory.”

“If they can get their mouths around something, they’ll eat it. It’s rare, but without question, they sometimes attack unprovoked,” Mayer notes. “We found one case in India where a young girl was walking with her father when a wild pig emerged from brush, grabbed her and picked her up in its jaws, and carried her away. The father gave chase and caught up, but both the father and daughter ended up in the hospital and the little girl died from her wounds.”

“And then there was the 2019 case in Texas where a lady endured the worst,” he adds. “That case is as terrible as it gets.”

As in, maneater. Wild pigs as maneaters.

Feeding Frenzy

The Sunday before Thanksgiving, Nov. 24, 2019, arguably ranks as the most savage wild pig attack on record.

As caregiver at the home of an elderly couple living in rural Chambers County, Christine Rollins, 59, arrived to work at roughly 6 a.m., in clockwork fashion. Rollins parked a Chrysler sedan in the yard of the well-kept property, directly beside the driveway, and exited her vehicle. She likely was dead within minutes, partially consumed while alive.

(Farm Journal)

At approximately 7:45 a.m. law enforcement arrived at the property and found Rollins—5’1” and 130 lb.—on her back against the manicured lawn, 6’ from the Chrysler. Rollins’ clothing was torn away. A shirt and jacket were bunched high on her torso; pants and shoes were gone.

Her body, head to toe, was a roadmap of injuries—bites, punctures, and lacerations, including large portions of her legs devoid of flesh. Gone. Eaten.

Arriving on site as an investigation unfolded, nothing in Sheriff Brian Hawthorne’s 35-year southeast Texas career prepared him for the scene.

“I’d never seen anything like it in my life,” he recalls. “Miss Rollins was annihilated. A third of her body was mutilated and in ghastly condition. We could see that she’d been attacked by wild animals and we could see clear signs of hog rooting in the yard. The area around the property was rural and partially wooded, and the elderly owners told us they had major wild hog problems.”

“The owners also had two dogs outside, a 14-year-old Lab and a dachshund, a classic wiener dog. The Lab was extremely friendly toward us and was happy to see the deputies.”

(Farm Journal)

Designated as an “unknown death,” the incident automatically triggered a criminal investigation. Hawthorne reserved judgement, pending an autopsy.

The autopsy was telltale.

“It was tragic. Miss Rollins bled to death,” Hawthorne says. “She had wounds over her whole body, but the lower extremities were horrific. People tried to attribute the attack to dogs, but the evidence was clearly to the contrary. The pathologist found no canine bites on the body. There certainly were bites and tusk marks of all sizes and different widths, but they were made by hogs. Material was sent to labs for DNA testing, and those results confirmed the wild hog attack.”

“It can only be speculation, but we believe she exited her car while the wild pigs were coming around the house,” he continues. “Initially, she was an obstruction, but then became the center of a feeding frenzy by multiple adult hogs and multiple juveniles of various sizes. I’d compare it to the frenzy of domesticated pigs when slop is dumped in a pen, or the frenzy normally associated with sharks at feeding.”

(Farm Journal)

Glaringly, the 2019 wild pig attack in Chambers County accords with Mayer’s research and study. “Every part of me wishes Christine Rollins’ death was attributable to something other than wild hogs, but every bit of evidence says it’s not so,” Hawthorne concludes. “This attack was an exception, but I tell people all the time: Wild hogs are problematic and a danger to be around. Period.”

No More Skeptics

Why do most of the attacks and deaths from wild pigs go unnoticed? Over half (51%) of all fatal pig attacks occur in India, followed by China (8%), with the U.S. well behind at six recorded fatalities in the past 100 years, as noted in Human Fatalities Resulting From Wild Pig Attacks Worldwide: 2000–2019 .

(Farm Journal)

However, the attack rate is trending up everywhere, Mayer says. “In the last 30 years, the global wild pig population has exploded, and we expect encounters to climb alongside, and now the news media is also catching up and the data is more available. In America, for example, I’m certain there were more wild pig fatalities in the past century, but those accounts were never documented. No doubt, there are more lost in family histories.”

In the early 1970s, when Mayer first began giving presentations on wild pig expansion, he was met with puzzled looks and a frequent question: “Why study an animal with no relevance?”

(Farm Journal)

Fifty years later, with the U.S. wild pig population ballooning to 7 million, and annual damage to the agriculture economy at $1.5 billion, according to USDA estimates, no one questions Mayer over the impact of wild pigs.

“You hear about shark attacks all the time in the news, but you almost never hear about wild pig attacks. I hope our study increases awareness about wild pigs and makes people more cautious,” he says. “Wild pig attacks are rare and fatal attacks are rarer, but the rate is still much, much higher than people think—high enough to place wild pigs over sharks in cause of death.”

Sincerely. By the numbers, Hogzilla defeats Jaws.

For more articles from Chris Bennett ( cbennett@farmjournal.com or 662-592-1106), see:

Corn and Cocaine: Roger Reaves and the Most Incredible Farm Story Never Told

American Gothic: Farm Couple Nailed In Massive $9M Crop Insurance Fraud

Priceless Pistol Found After Decades Lost in Farmhouse Attic

Cottonmouth Farmer: The Insane Tale of a Buck-Wild Scheme to Corner the Snake Venom Market

Tractorcade: How an Epic Convoy and Legendary Farmer Army Shook Washington, D.C.

Bizarre Mystery of Mummified Coon Dog Solved After 40 Years

While America Slept, China Stole the Farm

Pork Producers Deserve a Seat in Post-Harvest Food Policy Discussions

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 17:38:50 GMT

When we talk about advocacy in animal health and welfare, pre-harvest activities come to mind. Funding and strengthening programs to protect the nation’s pig herd from a foreign animal disease is a vital priority. Equally important are post-harvest policy issues such as food safety, human nutrition and responsible antibiotic use – key topics NPPC is discussing on a national and global stage.

Working with U.S. government agencies, livestock group partners and international regulatory bodies, I oversee NPPC’s advocacy for animal health and food safety throughout the supply chain. I’m passionate to educate diverse stakeholders on how pigs are raised and elevate the high standards utilized in the pork industry to build confidence in modern production practices.

Food safety in the United States is first-rate, which has helped position U.S. pork exports favorably to foreign markets. But as the U.S. government looks to strengthen our food system standards, it’s important to ensure any new or updated regulations are science-based and practical.

Salmonella is a good example. The FDA is working to reduce the number of foodborne outbreaks associated with it to achieve its Healthy People 2030 goals. NPPC is working on behalf of pork producers to shape what future regulations might (and might not) include. As a veterinarian representing the pork industry, I participate in the farm-to-fork working group to raise awareness of the industry’s food safety efforts and advocate for science-based decisions to ensure safe food.

Elsewhere, the U.S. government continues to take steps to promote the responsible use of antibiotics in livestock, reduce antibiotic resistance, and safeguard animal and public health. These are part of a broader One Health approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health. It is important to safeguard our antibiotics to ensure that we can use these tools to help animals and protect antibiotics for future generations.

Last year, the Biden administration launched a National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health with the goal to end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases by 2030. It’s important to elevate the role pork can play as a valuable source of protein and nutrients, as well as an affordable meat option.

Being part of the conversation allows NPPC to highlight pork’s benefits, including its use in healthy diets. As a mother of an 8-month-old, I want to ensure that future generations have access to healthy and safe food, which has become a professional, as well as personal, goal of mine.

My role on Codex, the international body responsible for developing food standards and codes of practice, is important to help create a fair playing field for international trade. Engagement with other countries gives NPPC an opportunity to shine a light on U.S. food policy and reinforce the need to adopt science-based standards.

NPPC is proud to work on behalf of pork producers to position pork as a safe, nutritious protein for consumers here and around the world. We deserve a seat at the table so the interests of all in the pork supply chain are heard.

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Cybersecurity is More Than Just Resetting Your Password

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 14:09:00 GMT

Cybersecurity refers to every aspect of protecting a company or organization as well as its employees and assets from online threats. For all of us in animal agriculture, cybersecurity is no longer just about avoiding those sketchy phishing emails or resetting our passwords. It’s about being aware of our online presence and how that may make us vulnerable to individuals or groups looking to gain access to sensitive information with the intent to target our farms or companies.

Recently, the Animal Agriculture Alliance has received a few different reports of cybersecurity concerns related to animal rights groups, such as extremists partaking in what the FBI calls “romance fraud” or what you might call “catfishing.” This is when someone uses misleading social media accounts to befriend and seek out information. In the case of animal agriculture, this could be used to gain information from farm or company employees. There are also schemes to collect information off company computers using software installed by clicking an email link. Physical security is not something to forget about either. Extremists entering a facility can try to access readily available unlocked computers to gather sensitive company information, including farm locations or finances.

You may have heard of ransomware attacks, often in the news targeting tech or finance companies, utilizing a form of malware to encrypt company files and shut down their systems. These attackers then demand a “ransom” in exchange for the decryption. This hit the meat community hard in 2021 when a group targeted JBS. This threat to the production of beef, chicken and pork was admired and applauded by animal rights activists.

Recently on a hog farm in Ontario, Canada, we were alerted to a similar incident, however, this time the attackers were not asking for payment. The attackers claimed to have captured incriminating evidence of animal welfare concerns from the farm’s surveillance system. To release their hold from the farm’s cyber network, the attackers were demanding a statement from the farm admitting to animal abuse. It was later revealed that the claims were false, and the farm was able to work with a cybersecurity service to resolve the issue. However, this occurrence was very alarming as this was the first time we had seen a cyber-attack seeking to tarnish a business’ reputation instead of money.

As technology becomes more prevalent both in our personal and professional lives, I encourage everyone to be aware of these tactics and be cautious of any suspicious activity online. The Department of Homeland Security has resources online that we recommend sharing with your friends and colleagues.

Here are three tips to protect your farm.

• Treat business information as personal information.

This includes trade secrets, employee information and financial information. Never share this type of information with unknown parties or using unsecured networks.

• Think before you act.

Be especially cautious about any communications that urge you to take action right away. Phishing emails will use this tactic (making you afraid that your account or information is in danger) to make you act rashly and not take precautions. Reach out to the person or company contacting you using a different, trusted communication method to verify what you received.

• Report suspicious or harassing activity.

Always report any suspicious contact you receive via email, social media or other platforms to the appropriate people at your company so they can monitor for trends and alert others to be cautious. Report any harassment or strange contact on social media to the platform itself and block any users you have concerns about.

Check out the Animal Ag Alliance website for more cybersecurity tips and information, as well as crisis resources.

Read more:

Cybersecurity on the Farm: How Could Your Operation Be At Risk?

How to Keep Farm Employees Safe During the Extreme Heat

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 18:37:48 GMT

For those whose livelihood depends upon working outdoors or in less than favorable conditions, this week looks to be quite difficult with higher-than-normal temperatures and humidity predicted. Meteorologists suggest parts of the upper Midwest could experience temperatures that land them in the categories of “high alert” and “emergency.”

When temperatures reach this level, it’s critical to take them seriously. While farmers do what they need to do to ensure livestock are cool and comfortable, it is also essential to check on other farmworkers and employees. Many farm employees may lack previous farm or other outdoor employment experience, so dealing with weather-related conditions may be new to them, not to mention the difference among individuals who may or may not be acclimatized to high heat conditions, explains Melissa O’Rourke, farm management specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

In general, she says farm workers can become overheated in one of two ways:

The heat from the environmental conditions in which they work.
An individual generates internal heat through physical labor.

In states like Washington, permanent heat rules for outdoor workers are now in effect. The overall goal is to address minimum requirements to prevent heat-related illness and reduce traumatic injuries for outdoor workers associated with heat exposure.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), almost half of all heat-related deaths occur on a worker’s very first day on the job, and over 70% of heat-related deaths occur during a worker’s first week. This is because workers who are new to working in warm environments may not be acclimatized to heat. Their bodies need time to adapt to working in hot conditions.

To protect new workers from heat hazards, schedule shorter shifts in the heat, separated by breaks, and monitor new workers closely for any symptoms of heat-related illness.

Other Helpful Tips

The Farm Bureau Financial Services shares other helpful tips that can help keep employees that work outdoors safe during the heat, including:

Dress the Part

Shield yourself from the sun by covering yourself up with a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses. OHSA recommends wearing light-colored, loose-fitting, and breathable clothing like cotton or linen. A special body-cooling vest might also be a great investment if you live in a steamy climate.

Drink Up

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends drinking 1 cup of water every 15 to 20 minutes during moderate activity. If you’re working outside in the heat, you’ll want to stay ahead of those numbers to avoid dehydration. Your urine is a good indicator as to whether you need to be drinking more water. Ideally, you want your urine to look clear. You might swear by your morning cup of joe to get you going but avoid drinking caffeine all day or adding sugary or alcoholic beverages to the mix. All of these items can dehydrate you.

Keep Your Cool

Find a shady spot where you and your team can take frequent breaks during hot weather. That could be the air-conditioned cab of your truck or even an outbuilding. Eat regular meals and include a lightly salted snack or two throughout the day for energy and balance electrolytes. If possible, schedule demanding tasks for early morning or evening when it’s cooler.

Mind Your Meds

Your body temperature might have difficulty cooling down or it may heat up more quickly if you take certain medications or have certain medical conditions. Talk to your physician before working in the heat this summer to find out if you’re at an increased risk for heat-related illness and need to take additional precautions.

Know the Symptoms

Heat-related illnesses can sneak up quickly. Keep an eye out for the warning signs and act fast in the event of heat stroke, heat exhaustion and heat cramps.

Heat stroke happens when the body can no longer control its temperature and is unable to cool down. Heat stroke is a medical emergency, and you should call 911 immediately.
Heat exhaustion is the body’s response to dehydration. If you are experiencing signs of heat exhaustion, ask a fellow worker or family member for assistance; you shouldn’t be left alone, and you may need medical treatment.
Heat cramps occur when your body sweats out too much salt and can also be a sign of heat exhaustion. Drink a sports drink or try water with a salty snack. Seek medical attention if you’re on a low-sodium diet, have heart issues or if your cramps don’t go away after an hour.

Poor Air Quality from Wildfire Smoke can put Livestock, Pets at Risk

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 19:02:11 GMT

Wildfire smoke from Canada returned to the upper Midwest and extended to the Mid-South and Mid-Atlantic this week, resulting in poor air quality in some regions along with reduced visibility.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a report on Wednesday, saying “wildfire smoke from Canada will reduce air quality over parts of the Upper/Middle Mississippi Valley, Great Lakes, Western Ohio Valley, Central Appalachians, and Mid-Atlantic, prompting Air Quality Warnings over the area.”

Unhealthy levels of pollutants from the smoke spread across states in those regions including most of Michigan and Wisconsin and parts of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, according to tracker AirNow.gov.

The NWS is encouraging anyone with underlying lung conditions or asthma – especially children and the elderly – to limit their time outdoors in those regions affected by wildfire smoke.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) advises monitoring pets and farm animals that could also be affected by the smoke.

“If you can see or feel the effects of smoke yourself, you also should take precautions to keep your animals – both pets and livestock – safe,” the AVMA encourages on its website.

Animals with cardiovascular or respiratory disease are especially at risk from smoke and should be closely watched during all periods of poor air quality.

Look for the following signs of possible smoke or dust irritation in animals, including:
• Coughing or gagging
• Difficulty breathing, including open mouth breathing and increased noise when breathing
• Eye irritation and excessive watering
• Inflammation of throat or mouth
• Nasal discharge
• Asthma-like symptoms
• Increased breathing rate
• Fatigue or weakness
• Disorientation or stumbling
• Reduced appetite and/or thirst

The wildfires range from British Columbia to Newfoundland and Labrador, and 239 were categorized by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) on Tuesday as being “out of control.”

Reuters reports that Canada is wrestling with its worst-ever start to the wildfire season, which has already burned 6.5 million hectares (16 million acres), an area a little bigger than West Virginia.

$500,000 Grant Seeks to Improve Air Quality on Pig Farms

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 15:59:57 GMT

Particulate matter at high concentrations can affect the health of both workers and animals in livestock facilities. Although the problem is well known, researchers say the exact concentrations of such particulate matter within and outside of the swine barns at different times is poorly understood.

A $500,000 grant from the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research will help a Purdue University team led by Jiqin (JQ) Ni document air-quality issues surrounding pork production in partnership with the National Pork Board.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, particulate matter measuring less than 2.5 and 10 microns (much smaller than the width of a human hair) is the most hazardous.

“We don’t have enough data. One of the issues is the lack of appropriate measurement technology,” Ni, a professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, explains in a Purdue University release .

Jae Hong Park, assistant professor in the School of Health Sciences in the College of Health and Human Sciences, and Brian Richert, associate professor of animal sciences in the College of Agriculture, are collaborating with Ni. Richert will design the swine barn test environment to operate under a range of controlled conditions and particulate matter concentrations, while Park, a certified industrial hygienist, focuses on aerosol science and technology.

“Anything in the air, that’s my target,” Park, who develops both sensors and samplers, says in the release. Park will develop a sensor station that consists of several air-quality sensors for this project.

Swine barns are complex environments that can generate gases such as ammonia that may attach to dust, the researchers explain. Particulate matter concentrations can vary greatly with different ventilations and weather conditions. In summer, swine barns increase ventilation rates by operating more fans and opening inlets and curtains, the article says. In winter, the barns operate with minimal ventilation to keep pigs warm. These different conditions affect both indoor and outdoor particulate matter concentrations.

“Poor air quality can have harmful effects on farm workers, their animals and the neighboring communities,” Constance Gewa, Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) senior program director, points out in a FFAR release . “In order to improve air quality on swine farms, the current amount of particulate matter on and around farms needs to be accurately and reliably measured. However, current particulate matter measurement methods are not specific for agriculture.”

Changing concentrations should be monitored and mapped, researchers say, but technologies to do this are expensive, difficult to operate and slow to produce results. Although there are many commercially available technologies for particulate matter measurement, Ni points out none are designed for agriculture and livestock use. Active animals stir up particulate matter of different sizes and concentrations. Most of the particulate matter will settle quickly, while some will be blown out of the barns through the fans, the Purdue release says.

The researchers’ objective is to develop a new technology that is low cost, with a faster response and easy to use. After carefully selecting particulate matter sensing units from the commercially available models, Ni and his team will develop the needed sensor unit combined with software and a solar power supply.

The tests will provide confidence that this new technology will generate accurate concentration measurement data, Ni says.

“We will develop a laboratory system to calibrate our technology to make sure it is compatible with high-end technology. We will also validate the technology in field conditions,” Ni says in the Purdue release.

The first tests will take place in a controlled environment swine barn at Purdue’s Animal Science Research and Education Center. Researchers will monitor the concentrations of particulate matter at different locations in rooms that house pigs at all stages of their development, from nursing during lactation to fully grown. The team will also validate the technology at commercial swine farms in Indiana and Ohio.

Park believes the work will have potential applications in barns and housing not only for swine, but also for poultry and other livestock and for handling powders in the food industry.

More from Farm Journal’s PORK:

Water-Based Foam Shows Promise as a Method for Swine Depopulation

5 Perspectives on Emerging PRRS Virus Strains

Over-the-Counter Antibiotics: What You Need to Know Before June 11

Top Lessons to Help You Avoid Machinery Fires

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 19:57:50 GMT

Drought conditions across the Corn Belt and really the entire U.S. set the table for combine and equipment fires. Some things I’ve learned too late about machinery fires:

1. Warning lights and grain cart drivers should never be ignored. If multiple warning lights in a combine’s cab starting flickering, or engine and slow shaft speed warning systems all come on at once, there’s a good chance a main wiring harness has melted back in the engine compartment due to engine fire. Perhaps the best early warning system for combine fires is an attentive grain cart driver who always scans the machine as they approach it.

2. Carry nothing less than two of the biggest fire extinguishers available, whether they are chemically-charged or water-charged. Make sure they’re both accessible from ground level. I’ve seen more than a few charred fire extinguishers still clamped in the engine compartment of burned-out combines.

3. Strong tailwinds can whip chaff and debris into the engine compartment and against exhaust manifolds on older combines. Newer combines have “enclosed” engines to reduce but don’t eliminate that risk.

4. Never assume a combine fire is out. Big, corrugated plastic wiring harnesses in the engine compartment often get packed with super-dry crop dust. That dust can smolder like a fuse inside those harnesses for dozens of feet from the actual fire. It’s tough to get water inside those plastic harness protectors, but a fire isn’t out until all of those protectors are cool to the touch.

Consistency is Critical When Training New Boar Stud Employees

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 12:00:00 GMT

High turnover in the swine industry is challenging in all areas of the business, but there’s no doubt boar studs may have some of the most challenges when it comes to training staff, Megan Hood, DVM, of Reicks Veterinary Research and Consulting, said during the 2022 Allen D. Leman Swine Conference. In addition to presenting her research during the Research Highlights session, she also presented a poster.

Hood said boar stud staff are expected to not only master basic care and biosecurity competencies, but they are also expected to master a specialized series of technical competencies.

“Boar stud employees have to learn a lot compared to some of our other swine farm staff,” Hood explained. “They have to learn some pretty difficult topics like how to collect a boar and how to train a boar to jump on a dummy, for example. These are unique tasks that we asked these folks to do.”

This can be further complicated by language barriers, Hood said.

After seeing the success of other training programs using the “See it. Do it. Teach it.” model, Hood and her colleague Darwin Reicks, DVM, a global boar stud expert, worked to create a series of boar stud learning experiences and delivered them on the Pork Avenue Training Portal. Along with Sarah Probst Miller, DVM, and her team, they developed a boar stud curriculum.

Then, Hood put it to the test within a group of boar studs with entirely Spanish-speaking staff who had mostly worked at the stud for less than six months.

“I speak a little bit of Spanish, but sometimes I had to have some translation tools to help me out along the way. Between my little knowledge of Spanish and the employees’ little knowledge English, at the end of the day, we could understand each other relatively well,” Hood said.

A Look at the Study Method

Before the program was implemented, Hood chose 30 competencies to evaluate the staff on – 18 on collection technique, six on boar safety and six on boar training. Baseline competency measurements were taken using the “Teach it.” method with the use of additional prompting questions if needed.

The staff were then asked to teach the evaluator how to perform tasks ranging from how to put on gloves for collection and moving boars around the barn to collecting a boar and training boars. Competencies were marked as yes/no present. Employees were given a percent expressed competency at the end of this session, Hood explained.

Post baseline, employees were enrolled in the Pork Avenue Boar Stud Curriculum, including three learning experiences on collection technique with Spanish subtitles, plus one learning experience on boar behavior and safety and one on boar training, both with Spanish voiceover. All training videos ended with a testing simulation of desired end skills. After seeing the videos, mentors took employees to the barn to perform the task together. Finally, staff were reevaluated by repeating the “Teach it.” phase with the same evaluator marking the competencies chosen as yes/no present.

Boar Training and Safety Top List of Challenges

The results were impressive, she said. The employees had an average baseline expressed competency rate of 70.5% (stud 1) and 73.6% (Stud 2). Hood explained the areas were staff struggled the most were boar training and boar safety. After verification of training, the employees averaged 94.5% (Stud 1) and 95.5% (Stud 2) competency expression rate. The average employee improved by 31.1% and the overall improvement ranged from 10% to 66% between employees.

The area of greatest improvement was in boar training – the average employee improved by 88%. As a whole, the training program was successful at increasing staff competency expression rates for boar stud specific topics.

“No matter where employee started, I can still get them to where I want to be with this training program,” Hood said.

She emphasized the importance of consistency in training.

“No matter what subject you’re training people on, it’s important staff are trained the same way each time,” Hood said. “Then, make sure training materials are available in that person’s original language. Finally, give the training materials in a way that can keep that employees’ attention and not overwhelm them.”

Learn more about this boar stud curriculum at Pork Avenue Training Portal .

More from the Allen D. Leman Swine Conference:

Fill Your Nursery Site in Fewer Groups to Maximize Pig Exit Weight

Pork Industry Steps Up to Address Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity

Biosecurity: Are We Adding Hazards Faster Than Control Measures?

Say That Again: Favorite Moments from Day One of the Leman Conference

Boehringer Ingelheim Awards 2022 GRANTS Recipients

Morrison Swine Innovator Prize Winner Takes a Deeper Look at Lawsonia

One Family's Tragedy Sparks Nationwide Farm Safety Project

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 14:36:09 GMT

What started off as a normal day on the farm for 13-year-old Kaden Wall on Nov. 3, 2020, ended in tragedy when Kaden’s life was taken too soon as a result of a freak farm accident.

“He was simply helping on the farm – doing a task that thousands of other kids just like him do virtually every day – helping his grandfather on the farm. With multiple generations helping at the farm at the same time, what should have been a moment of pure joy turned into complete devastation in a matter of seconds,” shares Kaden’s uncle, Patrick.

In the days following Kaden’s passing, Patrick, an area beef field specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, was doing some online research and discovered the startling statistic that a child dies in an agriculture-related incident about every three days.

“I found a lot of written resources regarding farm safety, but really very little that actively engaged youth to participate or even practice farm safety,” Patrick says. That’s how the Kaden Kares Foundation was formed in an attempt to capture the redeeming qualities of the farm boy whose life was tragically cut short.

Kaden loved showing pigs and farming with his family. Photo provided by Kaden Kares Foundation.

Help Save Lives

The long-term goal of the foundation is to save lives of farm kids, but the mission is to get there by creating active participation from kids. The project focuses on kid-created videos all about on-farm safety. Not only do the kids creating the videos learn, but also every kid that watches the videos online learns, too, Patrick adds.

“Many young people who are old enough to operate farm equipment also have a smart phone and access to social media in some fashion, so why not marry the two together to increase good farm safety practices?” Patrick asks.

To get involved in the Kaden Kares Farm Safety Initiative, start by engaging a team through your local 4-H Club, FFA Chapter or youth group, he says. Then, come up with a farm safety topic and generate a video that demonstrates good farm safety. Post the video on YouTube and enter the contest via the kadenkares.com website .

“The team competition part is basically the embodiment of my nephew,” Patrick says. “Kaden was always asking for pick-up basketball in the driveway with his uncles, family kickball in the front yard, board games, etc. No matter what, he always kept score and was determined to win. Of course, I also loved seeing that competitive spirit translate into the ‘eye of the tiger’ look during swine showmanship.”

The online video challenge will occur in the fall, though videos may be submitted all year long. Entries for each year’s competition will be cut off on November 30. Winners will be announced in January. Groups may enter more than once. Topics can range from livestock safety to ATV/UTV safety and anything in between.

“Take it seriously but have fun with it!” Patrick says. “Farm safety should be so much more than yelling at your kids to get away from the PTO shaft. We all know that agriculture is a dangerous profession, but most of us wouldn’t change the career path we chose. In the end, I want farmers to brag about their safety videos they did with their grandkids as much as they brag about their corn yields or weaning weights.”

Photo provided by the Kaden Kares Foundation.

The Farming “Bug”

Kaden was the oldest boy in his family and grew up watching his dad, granddad, cousins and great uncle farm.

“He was so eager to join them,” Patrick says. “Some of us get ‘the bug’ to farm; it’s hard to explain to those outside agriculture…but Kaden certainly had it.”

The more dollars that can be gathered through the Kaden Kares Foundation, the more dollars they will give away through the Kaden Kares Farm Safety Initiative, Patrick says. And ultimately, he hopes it results in more lives being saved.

“We hope people can learn from Kaden’s passing how quickly things can go wrong,” Patrick says, “and in turn, how important it is to actively practice farm safety with those involved in your operation.”

More from Farm Journal’s PORK:

Why One Pig Farmer Says It’s Time to Change Your Mindset

FFA Has-Been? No, Your Role Just Changes

Prepare and Prevent: It’s Going to Take Us All

Indiana Farm Fatality Summary Shows Positive Trends, Stresses Worker Safety

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 15:25:13 GMT

Purdue University’s Agricultural Safety and Health Program released the annual Indiana Farm Fatality Summary with Historical Overview, coinciding with National Farm Safety and Health Week. The annual observance has taken place during the third week of September since 1944.

The program reported 20 work-related on-farm deaths in the state of Indiana in 2021. Data shows that tractors are the most common agent in farm-related fatalities, representing as many as 52% of documented cases in the past 10 years, with six reported cases in 2021. Other causes included grain entrapment, equipment runovers and entanglements, and asphyxiation by fumes in confined spaces.

This shows a decrease from the 25 cases identified in 2020 and marks the fewest cases reported in the past eight years. Farm fatalities for the past 50 years continue to trend lower, likely reflecting safer machinery and work practices while also corresponding with a decline in the number of farmers.

Despite this positive trend, program members urge agricultural workers to remain diligent and follow safety protocols. No Indiana agency requires official documentation of farm-related injuries or fatalities, but prior Purdue research has indicated that each year approximately 1 in 9 Indiana farms has a farmwork-related injury incident that requires medical attention.

Documented incidents involving those age 60 or older account for nearly half of all cases in the past five years, including 40% in 2021.

“Historically, farmers over the age of 60, including many who work only part-time, have accounted for a disproportionate number of farm-related injuries. Recent spikes in frequencies of fatalities over the past 10 years make this population of older farmers a special concern,” the report states.

Males account for most fatalities, with only one female fatality recorded in 2021. One victim was a child, but historical data shows an overall decline in the frequency of farm-related fatalities involving children and youth.

Ed Sheldon, report co-author and Purdue agricultural safety specialist, said, “It is encouraging that the average number of annual farm-related fatalities continues to decline. That said, in 2021, at least 20 Indiana families and communities felt the devastating impact of losing one of their own to a farmwork-related death. That’s a very somber reminder that we should never become complacent in our efforts to make our farms safer places to live and work.”

Read More:

One Family’s Tragedy Sparks Nationwide Farm Safety Project

Kids on the Farm: Don’t Take Your Eyes Off Safety

In the 'Silo': Hulu Film Sheds Light on the Dangers of Grain Bin Entrapment

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:53:58 GMT

It’s not very often you see movies being made about rural America, least of all a film that showcases the dangers of farming.

The Man in the Moon (1991) and The Dressmaker (2015) are two films that ring a bell, but no others come to mind. However, Hollywood tides look to be turning as agriculture and its safety risks are gaining traction in the film industry.

Not Just Fate

Sam Goldberg—a New York City boy turned film producer—was far removed from anything dealing with agriculture. That is until he found himself in the midst of a tragedy.

News of a grain bin entrapment on a farm in Mt. Carroll, Ill. caught up with Goldberg in 2010, shifting his film lens from the city to rural America.

“The story hooked me so hard, I called my business partner and told him I’m not working on anything else until Silo gets made,” he says.

Goldberg shared when he first set out to make his grain entrapment film, Silo , he was focused on telling a compelling story—a movie he would want to go see. However, that spotlight quickly morphed into a bigger lesson.

“The more we got into making the story of Silo, the more people in ag were telling us how important this might be to the community for farm safety.”

The Plot

According to Goldberg, Silo takes place over the course of 24-hours on a small grain farm in the Corn Belt.

“It follows the story of Cody Rose, an 18-year-old who was a farmhand, working before harvest season,” he says. “Due to a bunch of bad domino effects, Cody gets trapped in a grain bin and the film is a rescue mission as to whether or not they’ll get him out.”

While the story involves a grain bin, Goldberg says he chose the title “Silo” not to confuse his audience, but to get them thinking.

“’Silo’ has double meaning—it’s a movie that’s really about people who are siloed from each other, even though they’re living in close proximity,” he says. “These people should be close and have a bond, but they’re not communicating well, which is why this accident happens.”

Communicating internal issues and issues with one another is pivotal in a farm setting. Goldberg says that’s exactly the message he’s trying to convey to the audience—communication is key.

An Outsider’s Insider

As someone who moved from the city to the countryside, Goldberg says he used to be a filmmaker making a movie about agriculture, “but now I’m a farm guy who happened to make a film.”

He admits, prior to the film, he didn’t know the difference between a grain bin or silo, nor the reason for production ag tractors. He says his few 1000 square foot apartment in a 12-story building in the middle of New York City provided him “nothing” when it came to knowledge of rural America.

“So many people are generations removed from working on the farm that they don’t really understand where their food and energy comes from,” says Goldberg. “It’s been cool to become an outsider’s insider in the ag industry.”

Watch Your Next Move

In 2019, Purdue University’s Agricultural Safety and Health Program reported 38 grain entrapment cases with 23 of those cases leading to fatalities.

It’s stories like these that continue to haunt Goldberg. From his work in Silo, he knows producers need to enter bins now and again. With his knowledge in hand, he offers a few safety considerations:

1. Harness up
Harnesses are available between $100 and $200, according to Goldberg, with used options at a much lower cost. He says it’s not uncommon for fire departments to loan or gift farmers a harness when an inquiry is made.

2. Phone a friend
Goldberg suggests farmers tell at least two people that they’re going into the bin.

“Call your wife, a farmhand or even a volunteer firefighter that you know,” says Goldberg. “Send out a mass text letting people know you’re going into your bin and if they don’t hear back from you in 20 minutes, call.”

3. Buy a lock-out tag
Auger lock-out mechanisms can ensure the auger stays off in the event of an accident. A few auger accidents have occurred, according to the film producer. He says this lock-out “could save a life.”

4. Grain Handling Safety Coalition
The grain entrapment in Mt. Carroll, Ill. that shifted Goldberg’s career also led to the beginning of the Grain Handling Safety Coalition, which offers grain handling information, training and certifications.

What’s in Store

Goldberg says the ultimate goal of any film is to get people in the room talking about issues. Upon Silo’s release, he says the ag community cracked open another idea for the film maker: mental health.

“Suicide is like an epidemic in the ag community,” says Goldberg. “We wanted to come up with a way to tell a story that tackled the subject of suicide in farming, so we’ve scripted a 6-part limited T.V. series, Perfect Sundays, about a dairy operation that’s struggling to stay afloat.”

While the show is ready to be filmed, Goldberg says the setting is season-dependent, meaning the production team needs good weather to film. He thinks the Pennsylvania film will be produced over the course of the next few years, if the stars align.

In the meantime, Goldberg asks anyone with questions or comments to reach him by email: sam@silothefilm.com.

More on mental health and farm safety:
By Her Own Hand: A Farm Girl’s Miraculous Journey from Death to Hope
Here’s Why You Need to Find Time for A Nap During the Busy Season
Kids on the Farm: Don’t Take Your Eyes Off Safety

Here’s Why You Need to Find Time for A Nap During the Busy Season

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 19:13:34 GMT

How much sleep do you get each night during the busy season? Researchers out of University of Nebraska—Lincoln (UNL) found that planting, harvest and calving season shave off 28 minutes of farmer’s sleep each night.

While 28 minutes doesn’t seem like much when you consider your ever-growing to-do list, Susan Harris, UNL extension educator, and Amanda Prokasky, assistant professor of education and child development at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, found this sleep deficit is a recipe for disaster.

“Half an hour less sleep in one night is no big deal,” says Prokasky. “But when you start subtracting 30 minutes of sleep every night for four to six weeks during a busy season, that sleep deficit can become pretty significant.”

Proof in the Pudding

To complete the study, 40 ag workers wore an Actigraph Spectrum Plus—a wrist monitor that continuously records data on motion and activity—for one week during a busy season and one week during a slower, “more routine” week, according to Harris.

Their findings not only show farmers spent 28 fewer minutes sleeping, but they also spent 25 less minutes in bed.

According to another farmer sleep study conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, farmers who sleep fewer than 7.5 hours per night increase their risk of injury by 61%.

NIH also found that decreased sleep results in decreased stability, making it 7.4 times more likely that you’ll have poor, inconsistent balance.

Minor Adjustments Could Make a Difference

To avoid on-farm incidents, Harris and Prokasky suggest producers:
1. Take a brief break—even if it’s 15 minutes.
2. Consider a nap—research shows a 20-to-30-minute nap will improve mood, sharpen focus and reduce fatigue without leaving you feeling groggy.
3. Adjust your schedule

The UNL researchers intend to create educational interventions on the importance of sleep during agriculture’s busiest seasons.

“We learned a lot of interesting things and learned what to do differently moving forward,” Prokasky said. “Now it’s about finding additional collaborators to take this to the next step.”

More on farm safety:
Kids on the Farm: Don’t Take Your Eyes Off Safety
One Family’s Tragedy Sparks Nationwide Farm Safety Project

Here Comes the Sun: 5 Easy Steps to Avoid Skin Cancer

Fri, 13 May 2022 13:26:52 GMT

Skin cancer is the single most common cancer in the U.S. In 2022, the American Cancer Society estimates:

About 99,780 new melanomas will be diagnosed.
About 7,650 people are expected to die of melanoma.

Farmers, livestock producers and others in the agriculture industry are part of core skin cancer statistics related to outdoor work, consistently ranking highest in overall sun exposure.

Even though farmers are at a higher risk of facing skin cancer during their lives, they are unlikely to take prevention steps. During a free skin cancer screening during 2011 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, nearly 200 farmers were surveyed on the topic. Results included:

Only 23% of farmers reporting sunscreen use always or frequently when out in the sun for 15 minutes or more.
Common barriers to sun protection included discomfort with wearing long pants and long shirts, forgetfulness with sunscreen use and inconvenience with wearing wide-brimmed hats.

See Until It Happened To Me to read Steve Cornett’s personal account of skin cancer treatment.

5 Prevention Steps

The National Center for Farmer Health suggests farmers take these five sun protection steps:

Slip on a long sleeve shirt and/or pants.
Slop on SPF 50+ sunscreen.
Slap on a broad-brim hat.
Slide on sunglasses.
Seek shade.

Don’t Fall Victim to Common Myths

Common beliefs about skin cancer are fraught with inaccuracies. The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery debunks common skin cancer myths:

Myth: People who tan easily and rarely burn will not get cancer. False. There is no such thing as a healthy suntan. Evidence shows tanning greatly increases your risk of developing skin cancer.
Myth: Young people don’t have to worry about skin cancer. False. Melanoma is the most common form of cancer in young adults, ages 25 to 29.
Myth: You don’t need to wear sunscreen on a cloudy day. False. Even under cloud cover, it is possible for the sun to harm your skin and eyes and cause long-term damage.
Myth: Dark-skinned men and women are not at risk for sun damage and skin cancer. False. Though naturally dark people have a much lower risk of skin cancer than fair-toned people, this does not make them immune to skin cancer.

Look for Trouble Signs

Because the success of skin cancer treatment relies on early detection, seeing and understanding the signs of malignant skin lesions are crucial. The Center for Disease Control’s ‘ABCs’ for identifying melanoma can help:

A-Asymmetry: Does the spot or mole have an irregular shape? Are there multiple portions that appear different?
B-Borders: Does it have uneven, irregular or jagged edges?
C-Color: Is the color uneven or varying?
D-Diameter: Is it larger than a pea? Has it grown?
E-Evolving: Has it changed in shape, size or color? Has it become sensitive or started to bleed?

When the Sheriff's Department Stops By: Farmer's Response Goes Viral

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 14:38:36 GMT

When Illinois corn and soybean farmer Doug Downs started fueling up his combine on Nov. 7 and saw a note on the combine door, his heart sunk.

“As a farmer, stress levels are high this time of year. I’ve got 997 things to worry about, and the 18-hour days wear you down,” Downs wrote in a post on Facebook that has been shared nearly 500 times in the past 10 days.

When Downs leaves the field, he always silently hopes that nobody messes with his equipment in the middle of the night out in the middle of nowhere.

So when he saw the note on his combine, his mind immediately thought the worst. But the note from Sgt. David Trimmell of the Sheriff’s Department in Vermilion County wasn’t what he expected.

“Just checking on the equipment. Have a safe harvest.”

At 1:30 a.m., Trimmell left this unexpected note on his business card in Down’s combine.

Downs couldn’t believe it and posted the note to Facebook, asking his friends if anyone knew this guy, to please pass along Down’s appreciation.

“It’s nice to know this is actually happening. Hopefully he wasn’t thwarting a crime. He had to walk 150 feet out into the field at 1:30 a.m. to leave this,” Downs wrote.

Just part of the job
But Trimmell says this isn’t uncommon for deputies to be out and about on the country’s backroads in the middle of the night, especially during harvest and planting season.

“We generally spotlight equipment in the fields as we go by, just to make sure nobody is in them and everything is ok,” Trimmell says. “It’s just something we all like to do and we are encouraged by the sheriff’s department to do so as well.”

Tractor break-ins do happen, but not often. He says a tractor sitting out in the middle of nowhere is always an opportunity.

When he’s patrolling the country roads, he looks for obvious signs when he spotlights equipment – such as broken windows and open doors.

“Farmers are very meticulous with their equipment. You’re going to find them in good shape. For example, doors won’t be open. If they are – we go check it out,” Trimmell says.

In addition, he watches for standing equipment with its lights on in the middle of the night.

“Sometimes farmers will hit something as simple as the hazard lights or turn signal when they get out of the tractor after working all day and being tired. If I find that, it sticks out, so I stop and take a look,” he says. “If a farmer leaves those on, it could run down their battery.”

The last thing farmers need during this time of the year is a dead battery, especially if it can be avoided, he adds.

Although he doesn’t always leave a note, he says he likes to every now and then if he hasn’t been in the area for a while.

“I do it so they know we are out there, but no one requires us to,” he says.

Stressful season isn’t over
There’s no question 2019 is a farming season that many want to move on from and forget. As farmers race to wrap up this season, Trimmell says he was especially touched that this farmer took the time to share a public thank you on Facebook.

“His post was such an amazing reminder that farmers are under a lot of stress this time of the year. To hear what it means to him to know someone is watching out for him as a farmer, that’s just awesome,” Trimmell says. “If I can do that little bit for them, I’m more than happy to do so.”

Farmers don’t need additional delays or challenges – especially in the form of a ransacked tractor – as Mother Nature always provides her share.

Trimmell grew up in the country and although his parents weren’t farmers, most of his friends’ parents were.

“I have great respect for the farming community. If I can give them a little peace of mind by throwing a card in their tractor, it’s the least I can do,” he says. “It’s very common for deputies to spotlight tractors and be out in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night – it really comes down to us simply doing our jobs.”

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Brothers Killed in Ohio Manure Pit Accident

Sat, 14 Aug 2021 18:18:16 GMT

An almost unimaginable loss for one family of farmers three brothers were killed after getting stuck in a manure pit. It happened in St. Henry, Ohio on Tuesday.

The Mercer County Sheriff’s office says the three brothers, Gary, Todd and Brad Wuebker, were overcome by fumes in the pit. When rescue crews arrived they found the men unconscious. All three were taken to area hospitals and later pronounced dead.

The village’s fire chief say the brothers were fixing a manure pump before they passed out from the fumes. A preliminary autopsy shows they died by asphyxiation.

The accident is a sobering reminder of the dangers associated with manure pits. For a list of safety tips to brush up on, click here .

Updated: Fire Shutters Tyson Plant Near Garden City

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:50:38 GMT

A “large fire” Friday night (Aug. 9, 2019) closed the Tyson Foods beef harvest facility near Garden City, Kansas.

A 911 call was received about 8:35 p.m. Friday by the Finney County Communications Center from the operations manager at the Tyson plant in Holcomb, reporting a fire in the building’s west end near the slaughter operations.

About 10 p.m. an alert from the Garden City Fire Department said the roof collapse was “imminent” as “fire has breached the roof of [the] structure.”

Update: A statement from Tyson Foods on Saturday said the “fire started in the box shop. We have had no reports of injuries. The plant will be down indefinitely until we can assess the damage. We will soon be notifying our team members about informational meetings.”

Update: A Tyson spokesman confirmed the company will pay Holcomb plant employees “a weekly guarantee until production resumes. We are here to ensure our team members are taken care of. We understand that this is a difficult time.”

Also on Saturday, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly directed Secretary of Commerce David Toland and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam to travel to Finney County to meet with representatives from Tyson, local government and economic development officials to coordinate state aid if needed.

About 1,200 employees were at the facility Friday night, with 400 working the harvest shift. All employees were evacuated and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage are unknown at this time.

Garden City Police Department Sgt. Lana Urteaga released a statement at 11:30 p.m. that employees were still on the scene, but would be transported to Wiley Elementary School in Holcomb by Garden City USD 457 buses. The American Red Cross arrived at Wiley to assist any employees in need of help.

There was no Saturday morning A-shift production for processing and harvest at the plant, according to Tyson.

Tyson’s beef processing plant at Holcomb employs about 3,300 workers, and harvests between 5,000 and 6,000 head per day.

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Updated: Fire Shutters Tyson Plant Near Garden City