Cut, cracked, and bleeding fingers are just the start of the physical hardships of farming. Over the course of my first full season, I spent long days bending, squatting, grabbing, twisting, pulling, pushing, cutting, walking, running, jumping, dragging, digging, pounding, lifting, tossing, catching, and reaching.
How difficult is farming?
The relative difficulty of farming begins with the fact that many farmers are not specialists. Farming might be one’s only occupation, but farming rarely offers specialization.*.
What are the health risks of Agri-agriculture?
Agriculture involves potential exposure to a wide range of respiratory toxins, many in concentrations higher than in other industries. Despite low rates of cigarette smoking, farmers have an increased prevalence of several acute and chronic respiratory diseases.
What are the health risks of working on a farm?
Aging of the farm population may lead to increased susceptibility to the adverse effects of occupational exposures, on chronic diseases including respiratory and musculoskeletal illnesses. Many hired farm workers no longer have an agricultural background and use employment in the agricultural sector as an entry-level job.
How many people are adversely affected by agricultural exposures?
Even with the consolidation of agricultural operations and the increased complexity and size of farms and other agricultural operations, there is a lack of knowledge of how many people are adversely affected by their exposures, particularly long-term, low level exposures.
How does agriculture affect human health?
In some respects there has been improvement in the health and safety of those working in agriculture due to improved technology, personal protection, and awareness of hazards.
What are the factors that affect agricultural exposure?
Health studies must consider several modifying factors in agricultural exposures resulting in physical illnesses including work force age and ethnicity, type of commodity, work practices, engineering controls, and use of personal protective equipment. The work force has significantly changed and varies greatly by region.
What are the effects of aging on farmland?
Aging of the farm population may lead to increased susceptibility to the adverse effects of occupational exposures, on chronic diseases including respiratory and musculoskeletal illnesses.
What are the health problems farmers face?
Farmers have an increased prevalence of many acute and chronic health conditions including cardiovascular and respiratory disease, arthritis, skin cancer, hearing loss, and amputations. Other health outcomes have been little studies in the agricultural workplace, such as stress and adverse reproductive outcomes.
When was agriculture at risk?
Agriculture has experienced major bio-technological advances and economic and socio-cultural disruptions since the publication of the white paper “Agriculture at Risk” in 1988. At that time it was recognized that there were acute needs in the prevention of musculoskeletal conditions, agricultural respiratory disease, noise-induced hearing loss, …
Is there a lack of knowledge of how many people are adversely affected by their exposures?
Even with the consolidation of agricultural operations and the increased complexity and size of farms and other agricultural operations, there is a lack of knowledge of how many people are adversely affected by their exposures, particularly long-term, low level exposures.
Does agriculture cause respiratory diseases?
This topic has recently been reviewed in detail (Schenker, 1998). Agriculture involves potential exposure to a wide range of respiratory toxins , many in concentrations higher than in other industries. Despite low rates of cigarette smoking, farmers have an increased prevalence of several acute and chronic respiratory diseases.
1. Deglobalization
Deglobalization is underway and the “ Chimerica ” marriage of convenience is headed for divorce. American corporations wanted to outsource manufacturing to drive higher profits.
2. Trade Politics
Although politics and trade policy have never comfortably co-existed, the two have become intertwined to a level not seen since the 1920s (remember “ Smoot-Hawley tariffs ” from grade school?).
4. Debt, Funny Money, and Farm Operating Leverage
The globalization frenzy of the past 25 years was facilitated by a massive buildup in debt. In the 1960s to 1980s, global debt was about $40 trillion, roughly 100% of global GDP. Today, global debt is a whopping $250 trillion, or 320% of GDP.
5. Climate Change
I do not know why weather patterns seem more volatile and extreme every year. Maybe it’s man made, maybe it’s not. But who cares? It’s still just as wet, dry, hot, or cold regardless of the cause. That variability means challenges planting, harvesting, or simply getting enough growing degree days to grow a crop (see 2019).
U.S. Agriculture: Taking One For The Team
I am sorry to sound like a pessimistic glass-half-empty guy, but it sure feels like U.S. agriculture is the “tip of the spear” in a global repositioning of agriculture, economics, technology, climate, and politics.