Farmer Health Study

BACKGROUND

The University of California, Davis Farmer Health Study is an ongoing investigation of the environmental exposures and health impacts of farming as experienced in California. The participants were selected from the general farming population in 1993 to be representative of the farming activities in the state. This study is designed to gather information on the long term occupational exposures of farm operators, the prevalence and risk factors associated with respiratory disease, allergic disorders, dermatitis, musculo-skeletal disease, occupational injuries, and document the incidence rates of respiratory disease.

California is the largest agricultural state with more than 27 billion dollars worth of farm commodities produced annually on over 75,000 farms. These farms are worked by up to a million farmers and farm laborers (according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service; 2000). The western states differ from much of the USA in climate, soils and production of farming goods. California leads the nation in the production of grapes, vegetables, many fruits and nuts, nursery products and milk, and the values of these products makes up over 10.5% of the total USA production (2002 Census of Agriculture ). California also has the most land under irrigation, and more labor intensive commodities, indicating that farm practices are different than in much of the country.

Farmers and agricultural workers in general are known to experience higher rates of illnesses and death than many other occupations. With respect to injury only mining is a more hazardous occupation. In 1994 agriculture employed about 3% of the US workforce, but accounted for about 10% of the fatal injuries. Only recently have there been studies specific to California farmers, yet even these mostly focus on a particular farm type and do not attempt to study a broad cross-section of the California farmer-operator. The University of California, Davis Farmer Health Study has a more comprehensive mandate including a representative sampling of all types of farmers including part time, manager operators as well as the traditional farm-owner.

Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety
Department of Public Health Sciences
School of Medicine & UC Davis Health System
University of California, Davis

This page was updated 14 February 2006, 11:39 AM.

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