Farmers and agricultural workers are exposed to an unusual array of health risks and hazards. These often cause short term, chronic, or even fatal disease or acute death from hazards such as toxic gases found around manure storage facilities. These hazards, conditions, and substances include: airborne hazards (dusts, gases, oxygen deficient environments, etc.); chemicals (pesticides, anhydrous ammonia, etc.); vibration; noise; sun exposure; heat; cold; pathogens; and a host of other concerns. Below are some specific recommended links to some of the more commonly encountered health concerns and hazards found on Wisconsin farms. Over time, more information will be added based on questions that arise from communities, ag educators, and farmers.
Recommended Agricultural Health Resources
- Respiratory Health Basics from AgriSafe Network
- Death of a Farm Worker After Exposure to Manure Gas in an Open Air Environment — Wisconsin
- Preventing Deaths in Manure Pits
- Don't Get Beat by the Summertime Heat
- Heat Illness Tailgate Training
- Protecting Against Noise
- Agricultural Medicine: Rural Occupational and Environmental Health, Safety, and Prevention (book, HIGHLY recommended!)
- Lyme Disease Information from the National Farm Medicine Center
- COVID-19 on the Farm - Safe Product Handling
- COVID-19 Resources from Upper Midwest Center for Ag Safety & Health (UMASH)