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Farmer and farmworker suicide rates remain high in the U.S., according to University of Iowa study

Study found suicide rates in agriculture higher than other occupations

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

Two hundred and thirty members of America’s agricultural community committed suicide between 1992 and 2010, according to a new study from the University of Iowa.

The study, ‘Trends and Characteristics of Occupational Suirice in Farmers and Agriculture Workers,’ examined 19 years of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatality.

The study points to different types of stress as factors that could lead a farmer to self-harm.

“Farmers feel occupational stress for many reasons, including management of own company, self-reliance, personal illness, diseases in crop or livestock, long work days…and weather,” the study said. “(Researchers) state that loneliness and isolation was a risk factor in suicide in the farm setting (and) that farmers reporting high stress were almost two times as likely to experience a serious injury in comparison to farmers experiencing low or moderate stress.”

Regionally, farmers in the West accounted for 43 percent of suicides. The Midwest accounted for 37 percent followed by the South at 13 percent and Northeast at 6 percent.

And compared to all other occupations, agriculture’s suicide rate is the highest, according to the study.

In 2009, there were 12 farmer or farmworker suicides, which translated to a rate of about 0.59 per 100,000.

All other occupations reported 263 suicides in 2009, or a rate of about 0.19 per 100,000.

There are a variety of resources available for people in need, including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and different hotlines within each state.


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The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

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