FarmSafe Podcast

In this episode, we explore what current research tells us about the relationship between farming and cancer in Iowa. Joining the conversation is Caroline Powell of the Iowa Cancer Consortium, who discusses findings from the 2026 Cancer in Iowa report and shares insights from her research on cancer knowledge and prevention in agricultural communities. Together, we examine cancer risks specific to...

In this episode, we explore how drone technology is advancing agricultural health research beyond its traditional uses. Mason McCulley shares his master's research on developing a drone-mounted air monitoring system designed to measure air quality around livestock facilities. The conversation covers the challenges of building and testing the technology, the role of UAVs in collecting three-di...

In this episode, we explore how communities can support farmer mental health through peer-to-peer education and outreach. Jonathan Lawrence of the Iowa Farmers Union Education Foundation shares how a Great Plains Center Community Pilot Grant helped train farmers to recognize signs of stress, have supportive conversations, and connect others with professional mental health resources. The discussion...

Floods can have devastating impacts on rural communities, affecting families, farms, livestock, crops, and infrastructure. In this episode, Ellen Duysen of the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health and Carolyn Sheridan of the Ag Health and Safety Alliance discuss lessons learned from the Midwest floods of 2019 and Iowa’s historic flooding in 2024. The conversation highlights the...

What does it take to engage farmers in research, education, and innovation? In this episode, we explore the relationships, trust, and collaboration that make agricultural health and safety initiatives successful. From cancer prevention and mental health training to emerging technologies like UAVs for environmental monitoring, our guests share lessons learned about engaging farmers, overcoming barr...

As farmers return to the fields, this FarmSafe episode brings attention to tractor rollover risks. We bring in Aaron Yoder to explain the basics about a vehicle’s center of gravity, which is important to understand both with and without loads. When the weight is balanced, a tractor’s center of gravity is between the front and back axles and between left and right tires. As long as this center of g...

In this episode, FarmSafe sits down with Andrea Swenson, director of the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety, to discuss the newly updated 2025 National Action Plan for Childhood Agricultural Safety. Drawing on her upbringing on a Wisconsin dairy farm and years of professional experience, Swenson explains why agriculture can be both an incredible developmental o...

In this episode, we explore why tick-borne diseases are becoming an emerging concern across Iowa and the Midwest, particularly for farmers and other outdoor workers. Dr. Kathryn Dalton from the University of Iowa College of Public Health joins the conversation to break down what’s driving these changes and why they matter. As tick populations grow and their active season expands, farmers are facin...

In this episode, we continue our conversation on the growing threat of tick-borne diseases for farmers across Iowa and the Midwest. Building on our previous discussion with Dr. Kathryn Dalton from the University of Iowa College of Public Health, this episode focuses on practical steps farmers and outdoor workers can take to reduce their risk of tick-borne disease. Dr. Dalton also discusses the com...

Ticks are becoming a growing concern across the Midwest as species like the Lone Star tick and Asian Longhorned tick expand their range northward. In this episode, FarmSafe explores what that means for both livestock producers and rural communities, with expert insight from Grant Dewell of Iowa State University and Iowa State Public Health Veterinarian Andrew Hennenfent. The conversation highlight...

In the season five kickoff of the FarmSafe Podcast , host Libby Ritchie and Center Director Renee Anthony, preview a packed year of conversations focused on improving health and safety in agriculture. This season features insights from the American Heart Association and experts from the University of Iowa on child injury prevention, machine safety, and new findings from the Iowa Trauma Registry. 

In this episode, Dr. Jenna Gibbs and Libby Ritchie join Lauren Lavin, host of the College of Public Health’s student podcast at the University of Iowa, to explore the realities of pediatric agricultural injuries. They discuss why injuries remain the leading cause of death for Americans ages 1–44, how terminology like “incident” instead of “accident” helps shift the focus toward prevention, and wha...

Dr. Renee Anthony joins us to unpack new Iowa trauma registry data showing that machine interactions account for roughly a quarter of farm-related hospital visits, more than half of all amputations, and a third of crushing injuries. While PTO shafts remain a well-known hazard, the numbers reveal a wide range of other machinery—combines, grain elevators, conveyors, augers, and even non-ag equipment...

Jon Davis, a researcher and assistant professor at the University of Iowa’s College of Public Health has released an updated analysis of more than 3,700 farm-related injuries treated in Iowa hospitals between 2017 and 2023, using the state’s uniquely detailed trauma registry. Because Iowa is one of the few states that flags farm-related injuries in hospital data, the report provides a rare, accura...

In this episode, Jenn Patterson sits down with Tim Nikolai, Senior Rural Health Director for the American Heart Association’s Midwest region, to discuss why rural communities face higher risks of heart disease and stroke and what can be done to change that. Tim shares how limited access to health care, healthy foods, and physical activity contributes to these disparities, while also highlighting t...

Omar Ahmad, Deputy Director of the Driving Safety Research Institute at the University of Iowa, discusses his recent project focused on automated driving systems (ADS) in rural America. This episode discusses the challenges of deploying automated vehicles (AVs), particularly in rural areas. Omar highlights issues like software bias towards urban environments, sensor malfunctions in poor weather (e...

Prescribed fire has evolved from ancient, indigenous land care to a modern toolbox in conservation and sustainable agriculture. Mechanization and chemical substitutes led to its decline, but renewed interest—rooted in both ecological science and cultural revival—has reinvigorated prescribed burning as a vital, multi-purpose land management practice. Amanda Stallman joins us for this episode to pro...

In this episode, Andrew Hennenfent, Iowa’s State Public Health Veterinarian, expertly walks us through rabies risk assessment and prevention strategies tailored specifically to agritourism farms. We also hear from Carrie Klumb, Senior Epidemiologist from Minnesota’s Department of Health, who weighed in on rabies trends from her state. We break down which wildlife species pose the greatest threat,...

Former FarmSafe host, Anna Proctor, PhD, is back to discuss her pilot project with the Great Plains Center. Her study looks at conversations between parent-child dyads to determine how safety behaviors are passed on through modeling, training, and supervision. Do the parents and their adolescents share safety practices and beliefs? And how will these conversations lead to a better understanding of...

Jana Davidson, program manager for the Progressive Agriculture Foundation, and Marsha Cheyney, outreach specialist for the Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health, discuss their strategies for agricultural safety outreach programs. Davidson stresses the importance of evaluating ROI and aligning activities with their mission of creating safer and healthier rural communities. Cheyney, representi...

Carolyn Sheridan, Executive Director of the Ag Health and Safety Alliance, describes the Gear Up for Ag program focused on educating the next generation of farmers and agricultural workers on health and safety. The program, tailored for various age groups (youth, high school, college), prioritizes engagement through interactive activities and demonstrations. Episode Resources Ag Health and Safety...

Have you ever considered podcasting? The current and former FarmSafe hosts from seasons 1-4 are back to chat about what they learned from making the FarmSafe Podcast. They provide tips for interviewing, including fighting off nerves and creating compelling stories. How did we come up with an original goal of 15-minute episodes? What were the hurdles of starting a agricultural safety and health pod...

In this episode, we sit down with Ellen Duysen, research assistant professor at the UNMC College of Public Health and coordinator of the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health, to discuss the importance of raising backyard poultry and the growing threat of bird flu (avian influenza). Ellen shares key insights into how bird flu spreads, particularly in small-scale, backyard flocks...

Many farmworkers, particularly those in rural areas, have faced difficulties finding affordable, reliable childcare options due to the demands of farm work, which often includes long, irregular hours. Rural communities often lack sufficient childcare providers, and those that do exist may be too expensive or lack flexibility to accommodate farmers' schedules. Additionally, farm families may h...

Farm families face similar childcare access and affordability challenges as other working families nationwide, yet research on their specific experiences and needs is limited. Existing research lacks a deep understanding of how farm families actually use childcare, and what types of arrangements and support systems would motivate them to utilize childcare more. In this episode, we are joined by Fl...