Perceived Hazards and Safety Information Needs of Small Family Farms and Organic Farms in the Central States Region

BACKGROUND: Small family farms with sales < 250,000 USD comprise 88% of all farms in the US. These farms differ in farm practices, hazards, and safety needs compared to large operations. This study aims to understand the perceived hazards and safety information needs of small family farms and organic farms in the Central States region.

METHODS: National Agriculture Statistics Service conducted a cross-sectional, pilot-tested, self-administered, mail survey among various farm demographic groups during spring 2012. A random sample of 1038 from respondents of 2007 agricultural census was selected using multi-stage sampling technique from the Central States region (North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri) with 21.6% response rate. On the basis of primary occupation, farms were re-grouped into non-traditional (retirement, residential/ lifestyle), traditional farms (low or medium sales, high sales) and organic farms. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Zero-inflated negative binomial regression modeling was used to estimate the effect of farm and individual-level variables on perception of hazards and need for safety information. 

RESULTS: There were 45.1% non-traditional (19.6% retired and 25.4% residential), 30.4% traditional, and 24.5% organic farms. Most operators were males (88%) belonging to income group ≥ 50,000 USD. A total 38 farm hazards including machine/equipment n=11, building/structure n=11, exposure n=9, health n=7 were listed by respondents. 68.3% non-traditional, 83.8% traditional, and 76.4% organic farms perceived more than 1 hazard. 6.93% non-traditional, 26.47% traditional, and 27.27% organic farms required safety information for 1 or more hazards. Foremost perceived hazards and safety information need were power take off hazards, lawn mowers, tractors, machine shops, storage structures, confined spaces, animal handling, pesticide exposure, lifting heavy objects, hearing loss, musculoskeletal problems, respiratory disorders and stress. Adjusting for gender, occupation, age of operator, non-traditional farms were 4.5 times less likely to report need for safety information (95%CI: 3.65-5.43). Adjusting for other crops, field crop growers perceived more hazards (OR=1.41, 95% CL: 1.18-1.64) compared to non-field crop growers. Adjusting for farm size, and total sales, income group <20000 USD perceived greater health concerns (OR=2.29; 95%Cl: 1.58-2.99) compared to income groups 20000-29999, 30000-39999, 40000-49999, and ≥50000 USD. 

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the respondents identified many hazards, but fewer safety information needs. Non-traditional farms reported fewer hazards and safety information needs compared to traditional and organic farms. Some of the farm level and operator demographics were significant predictors of hazards perception and safety information needs among farmers in Central States region.