Modeling New World Screwworm (Cochliomyia Hominivorax) Infestation Scenarios and Their Economic Impact on Florida’s Livestock Industry
Florida’s livestock industry is a vital component of the state’s agricultural economy, supporting over 1.56 million cattle and 385,000 horses and contributing more than $8.3 billion annually, while also providing employment, food security, and sustainable land management. Despite recent recovery from weather-related losses, the industry faces a renewed threat from the New World screwworm (Cochliomyia […]
Monitoring HPAI/H5N1 transmission in backyard poultry operations in Florida
Climate change impacts on farmer mental health: A participatory and systems-based approach
Youth voice on the impacts of heat-related illness and climate change
A yearlong pilot project conducted through a community-university partnership between the University of Florida’s Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (UF-SCCAHS) and the Farmworker Association of Florida (FWAF) is summarized in this report. The project aimed to build organizational capacity for Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) by engaging farmworker youth in examining the […]
Enhancing agricultural safety education (eye safety) through immersive technology
The AHSA pilot project aimed to develop an innovative educational tool to strengthen eye-safety awareness among young adults working in agriculture. In April 2025, the Ag Health and Safety Alliance (AHSA) conducted a 360-degree video capture on the Mississippi State University (MSU) farm in collaboration with OP McCubbins. The team produced immersive scenarios featuring real […]
Exploring the significance of agroforestry and regenerative agriculture in farmer’s health and risk of zoonotic diseases
Agroforestry and regenerative agriculture (A/RA) are emerging as promising sustainable farming approaches that intertwine economic, social, and environmental benefits, including carbon sequestration. These practices are gaining traction globally due to their potential to enhance soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem Integrity. However, the forest-farm edge generated by A/RA landscapes may give rise to pathogen spillover from […]
Effectiveness and Implementation of Self-Management for Horticulture Workers
Project Summary While low back pain (LBP) is highly prevalent and potentially disabling, few intervention studies to mitigate LBP have been conducted in the labor-intensive agriculture sectors, and no evidence-based intervention studies exist specific to horticulture workers. In a preliminary study, horticulture workers in Florida reported a high incidence of opioid use attributed to work-related […]
Detection of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology in Florida by Repurposing a Statewide Data Infrastructure for Surveillance
Project Summary Chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) is an emerging public health concern for agricultural workers in various regions within the subtropics and tropics. Recognition of this condition is growing among agricultural communities and has been described in regions found in Central America, Sri Lanka, India, Tunisia, and Taiwan. The pathologic mechanisms leading […]
Exploring mental health and natural disasters in agricultural communities in Puerto Rico
The overarching goal of this project is to adapt and pilot an assessment tool to explore mental health status using previously developed resources. The investigative team expects that the implementation and use of the developed tools will provide a pathway to effectively assess the mental health and resilience of agricultural workers in Puerto Rico as […]
Pilot study of mobile app monitoring to prevent heat-related symptoms among Hispanic farmworkers
Test and evaluate an OSHA mobile application among migrant and seasonal farmworkers to reduce the risk of heat-related illness (HRI). Assess the feasibility of recruiting farmworker crew leaders to train-the-trainer intervention and measure implementation of the health intervention.