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UMASH’s Best Kept Secret

DECEMBER 2020 UMASH’s best kept secret is a secret no more! In our #UMASHResearchers social media campaign, we highlighted four of our researchers: Pete Raynor PhD, Joni Scheftel DVM MPH, Casper Bendixsen PhD, and Carrie Klumb MPH. The purpose of the social media campaign was to highlight the researchers and the novel, innovative work they do to promote …

SPOTLIGHT: Was that a part of the plan?

NOVEMBER 2020 As we wrap up harvest, plans are being made for 2021. While we do not hope for any disasters, now is the time to plan for one. Shay Foulk is an agronomist, agricultural business and safety consultant, and seed producer in Sparland, IL. He has worked with farmers and agri-businesses to develop and implement safety emergency response plans, …

Be Prepared

Jeff Bender, DVM UMASH Director We often “live in the moment” and sometimes forget to plan or strategize for the future. The current pandemic has reminded me of the value and need for planning and being prepared. We can’t anticipate all contingencies but if we engage others, together we can better understand the challenges and issues ahead. Now …

SPOTLIGHT: Looking for the right tool? UMASH has you covered.

DECEMBER 2020 Ever heard the phrase, “use the right tool for the job?” If you’re in a hands-on occupation, using the right tool is important to do the job right. Farming is an occupation full of opportunities and challenges. Recent years have presented new and old challenges for the agricultural community: low commodity prices, machinery setbacks, …

UMASH at MRASH: A Success!

NOVEMBER 2020 On November 17-20, the Midwest Rural Agricultural Safety and Health Conference (MRASH) brought together safety and health researchers and professionals, health care providers, farmers, and rural advocates all committed to building a safer and healthier agriculture. The theme this year was “Rising to New Challenges,” and the conference …

Two of America’s admired professions. Separate no more.

NOVEMBER 2020 Kyle Koshalek Research Coordinator, National Farm Medicine Center The Rural Firefighters Delivering Agriculture Safety and Health (RF-DASH) program, funded by UMASH, is a training program designed to equip rural fire and EMS personnel with the knowledge and ability to identify hazards and prevent injuries on our local farms. After the …

SPOTLIGHT: Don’t Sacrifice Safety for Speed During Weather Delays

NOVEMBER 2020 Farming has always been a “busy” job and fall harvest is one of the busiest times of the year. Getting the crop out, repairing equipment, livestock chores, milking, moving snow and more are vying for your time. Short cuts and being in a hurry can and do result in injuries and fatalities. It is essential to avoid making permanent mistakes …

SPOTLIGHT: Unique Safety Risks for Women Dairy Farmers

NOVEMBER 2020 Dairy farms have been synonymous with Wisconsin for many years. America’s Dairyland is the tagline appropriately used on vehicle license plates to remind us that the state of Wisconsin is a hub of dairy farms and associated businesses. Women are an integral part of the dairy industry. As with many farm jobs, women face different occupational …

#RuralFarmHealth Twitter Chat: A Success!

One week before National Rural Health Day, UMASH hosted a Twitter chat on Thursday, November 12 about rural healthcare for agricultural communities, broadband access, and farmworker health. Eighteen organizations, farmers, and farm safety and health professionals participated. The purpose of the event was to learn about the unique healthcare challenges of rural farming communities, including producers and agricultural workers, and what we can do to address these challenges. Read the full discussion summary here …