Dairy farm kids less likely to develop allergies, study

Jul 14, 2014

Children and pregnant women may benefit from spending time on dairy farms

Youngsters who live on dairy farms are less susceptible to develop allergies. According to a study published in The Journal of Immunology, conducted by researchers at The University of Gothenburg in Sweden, children are not the only ones who can benefit from being around a dairy farm, but pregnant women too.

Scientists found that children who grow up on dairy farms run a much lower risk of having allergies compared to other children. Farm kids are about one-tenth at risk of developing allergies. And for pregnant women, spending time on dairy farms can help promote maturation of the fetal and neonatal immune system.

The study notes that children that are less exposed to microorganisms are found to have fewer infections.

One of the researchers, Anna-Carin Lundell, said “our study also demonstrated for the first time that delayed maturation of the immune system, specifically B-cells, is a risk factor for development of allergies.”

More studies are needed to verify the link between delayed B-cell maturation and the period of risk that follow the development of allergies.

“We need to identify the specific factors on dairy farms that strengthen protection against allergies and appear to promote maturation of the immune system as early as the fetal stage,” said Lundell.

The study was conducted on rural children that lived in the areas of Västra Götaland Region, and half of the participants in the study were from dairy farms.

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.