Progress 06/01/15 to 07/31/16
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience was women livestock farmers. Our survey reached a diverse segment of farmers --272 women, ranging in age from 17-76, from new farmers to women with 50+ years' experience, from farms/ranches of less than an acre to 6,000 acres, in 32 states plus the U.S. Virgin Islands. Additionally, twenty-four women farmers participated in focus groups in Oregon, Vermont and Iowa. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
This project focused on improving the health, safety and quality of life of women livestock farmers. At least 1 million U.S. women are farmers, and more than half of women-operated farms have some kind of livestock, according to U.S. Agricultural Census figures. Researchers have found a correlation between raising livestock and getting hurt. We sought to better understand health and safety issues affecting women livestock farmers, and also to assess needs related to tools and equipment; despite anatomical, physiological and anthropometric characteristics that place women at greater risk for some farm injuries, women have typically had to use tools and equipment designed primarily for men and therefore ill-suited to their frames, physical strengths etc. This mismatch between farmer and tools/equipment can also contribute to injuries. Based on our research and project accomplishments, we expect the following short-term results: improved knowledge among women farmers, especially related to safe animal handling; and safer / more effective animal handling behaviors by women farmers. Expected longer-term results include: a reduction in farm injuries, which contribute to U.S. health care costs, reduce the viability of farming for women and can have adverse impacts on availability of safe, nutritious, local food; a lowered risk for musculoskeletal disorders, a leading cause of disability; tools & equipment that are easier, safer and more effective to use for women farmers and that address identified factors leading to injury; and enhanced quality of life for women livestock farmers. Objective 1. To create a prioritized list of agricultural tools and equipment that women livestock farmers need/want adapted or redesigned The research conducted in support of this objective included these quantitative and qualitative methodologies: Online survey of women livestock farmers. Complete responses were received from 272 women, ranging in age from 17-76, from new farmers to women with 50+ years' experience, from farms/ranches of less than an acre to 6,000 acres, in 32 states plus the U.S. Virgin Islands Four focus groups with women livestock farmers, conducted in Oregon, Vermont & Iowa, with a total of 24 participants Interviews with 13 individuals who were either experts in ag safety, researchers studying women in ag &/or who were themselves women farmers Literature searches and online searches for tools & equipment Major findings included: Rates of injury or disability (especially Musculoskeletal Disorders, or MSDs) among survey respondents consistent with and in some cases higher than those reported in the literature. For example, 40% of respondents reported having experienced an injury and/or chronic condition that interfered with their ability to perform daily activities on the farm and/or care for their animals; of these, 86% reported the injury or condition in question as an MSD. High levels of dissatisfaction with current tools and equipment, with 86% of all respondents listing at least one problem. Furthermore, more than half of survey respondents reported having gotten hurt while using a tool or piece of equipment. Many of these respondents described acute or chronic MSDs related to lifting or transport of heavy tools or materials, such as full water buckets. The two most commonly cited specific tools/pieces of equipment implicated in injuries were post hole pounders/drivers and wheelbarrows. Two cross-cutting issues - affecting most if not all farmers, regardless of type(s) of livestock - were 1) lifting & transport of heavy materials such as feed bags, hay bales and water or milk pails and 2) challenges related to handling or restraining animals, sometimes resulting in injuries from animals' struggling/kicking, from being stepped on by animals etc. Prioritized list of tools/equipment for redesign: 1.Materials handling equipment, such as a wheelbarrow or cart, equipment for carrying full buckets without spillage etc. 2.Pitchfork / manure fork 3.Shovel 4.Tractor 5.Weed whipper or whacker 6. Fencing equipment, including post pounder, wire cutter, field fence stretcher etc. Objective 2. To develop conceptual descriptions and drawings and/or prototypes of 2 tools or pieces of equipment based on needs and recommendations of women livestock farmers Two prototype manure forks have been produced, and numerous drawings and concepts have been developed for improved materials handling equipment. Objective 3. To expand the resource section of Green Heron Tools' website to include recommendations to improve the health and safety of female livestock farmers A new website section went live on July 18, 2016. The section includes an introduction featuring some data from the Phase I research; links to videos, PDFs and websites focused on safe animal handling, organized by animal type; and a forum for women farmers to exchange information, tips etc. The section can be found at http://www.greenherontools.com/livestock-farmer_safety.php
Publications
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