Additional Dairy Farm Safety Research Projects
Over the last 10 years, HICAHS collaborators have leveraged our work to build trust with the dairy industry and secure funding for projects that impact the changing landscape of dairy work and the dairy workforce.
Health and safety of the dairy workforce is a special emphasis area for HICAHS, with a focus on large-herd dairies. Between 2007-2017, the states where HICAHS collaborators and partners are most involved (Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Texas) saw the average number of cows per dairy rise from 375 to 573 (USDA, Census of Agriculture). This growth in the number of cows per farm signifies the regional shift towards large-herd management and operation, which impacts the types of equipment used and the daily tasks and responsibilities of dairy workers.
Dairy FARM Workforce Development – Safety Reference Manual
The National Dairy FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) Program was created by the National Milk Producers Federation in partnership with Dairy Management Inc. as a consumer assurance program. Through this program, U.S. dairy farmers, co-ops, and processors follow best practices to ensure that the industry produces high quality milk while taking care of cows, workers, and the environment.
HICAHS collaborators serve as subject matter experts for the Workforce Development Task Force, providing leadership and authorship to the Safety Reference Manual. The manual provides an overview of evidence-based practices to prevent worker injury and illness as part of the program’s workforce development silo.
Contact: David Douphrate
COVID-19 in the U.S. Dairy Industry
With the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, dairy farms across the country have faced unprecedented challenges, including a reduction in dairy demand and economic hardships. Additionally, dairy producers are confronted with the additional challenges of reducing the risk of COVID-19 among farm workers which can have a significant impact on operations and productivity. This project aims to inform dairy owners, managers and workers with the latest scientifically-sound COVID-19 information so they can make informed decisions to (1) enhance production practices that maximize worker health and performance, (2) adopt safe work practices among workers, (3) reduce the risk of COVID-19 on the farm, and (4) encourage planning for a potential COVID-19 resurgence. Read the full project scope.
Funding: USDA-NIFA, 2020-2022
Contact: David Douphrate
See the Research Page for information on dairy farm safety research projects funded through our cooperative agreement with NIOSH.