News

Healing Through Farming: The Farmer Veteran Coalition

Finding viable employment and meaningful careers is a challenge for many of today’s veterans returning home, but the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC) brings two of the country's biggest industries together—agriculture and military.

WCAHS Has a New Four Year Research Project

An additional research project, “Reducing occupational exposure to zoonotic pathogens in California dairy farmworkers,” has been awarded funding from the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, increasing the number of primary WCAHS research projects to five.

Research

Del Bosque Family Farm Passes on Culture of Health and Safety to Employees and Younger Generation

WCAHS provides a free heat illness prevention training to employees of Del Bosque Farms in Firebaugh, CA

Healthy Lungs and Agriculture

Agricultural workers face numerous airborne threats every day. Air pollutant emissions, soil fumigants, pesticides, mold, asbestos, and dust are a few of the potential lung health hazards that an agricultural worker can come into contact through work.

Research

Stories from the Field: Returning to a Local Community Clinic to Promote Health and Safety

Clínica Tepati is a student-run volunteer clinic that works to provide healthcare to the uninsured Latino community in Sacramento.

Reducing Lower Back Pain Related to Farming

Lower back pain is one of most serious health problems for farmworkers, and it can result from the intensive manual work that farming requires, such as carrying heavy objects or working long hours in a stooped posture.

Research

The Disappearing Salton Sea and Poor Air Quality in Imperial Valley Farm Communities

Over the past several decades, water flowing from the Colorado River meant for agricultural irrigation has been rerouted, leaving the Salton Sea stagnant—its only inflow from agricultural and industrial runoff.

Research

Spotlight Series: Agricultural Safety and Health Council of America (ASHCA)

ASHCA is a coalition of farms, ranches, producer associations, and other related agricultural people, organizations and businesses joining together with safety associations, government agencies, safety professions, and educational institutions (such as the Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety [WCAHS]).

Wildfire smoke and pesticides – a dangerous mixture?

Potential health risks of wildfire smoke may be magnified due to pesticide application across California’s vast agricultural land and the use of fire retardants to fight fires. 

Research

Stories From the Field: 8th Annual National Hmong American Farmers Conference

WCAHS attended the National Hmong American Farmers’ 8th Annual National Farm Conference on August 29, 2017 in Fresno, CA. This year’s conference embraced the diverse and multi-ethnic farming community and focused on “New Generation, Immigrant and Veteran Farmers.”

Biosolarization: A Sustainable Agriculture Practice that Improves Farmworker Safety

An alternative to fumigants is biosolarization, which can be used to eliminate, or at least significantly reduce, fumigant use.

Research

Latina Graduate Student takes on Sexual Harassment in Agricultural Health and Safety

Preventing sexual harassment in the agricultural industry is the focus of graduate student Kimberly Prado's research. She received a WCAHS Small Grant for the project.

Research

WCAHS Researcher Improves Almond Orchard Soil with Biosolarization

WCAHS investigator Dr. Chris Simmons is helping Chico based almond grower Rory Crowley improve his orchard's health with biosolarization, an alternative to toxic soil fumigation.

Research

Stories From the Field: Celebrating Día de la Familia in Napa, CA

WCAHS Outreach was at the 6th annual Día de la Familia event in Napa, CA, where they talked to over 250 people about heat illness and pesticide safety.

Meet New WCAHS Director Kent Pinkerton

The Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (WCAHS) has a new director - Dr. Kent Pinkerton - who specializes in air pollution and agriculture.