Two Webinars Will Examine Impact of Excessive Farm Heat on People and Produce

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach's Farm, Food and Enterprise Development team is holding two webinars in August that will explore the role of intense heat on farmers and growers, as well as their crops.

"Heat exposure is an increasing problem for agricultural workers, and can negatively impact their health and mental state," said Alex Van Alstyne, food business extension specialist with Iowa State. "By addressing these issues, our goal is to protect the health of workers who bring food to our tables and offer guidance for small-scale growers on how to protect their crops."

Both webinars are available at no cost to those who wish to attend. Read more information on each event below.

Heat-Smart: Protecting People from Field Heat Stress

This one-hour webinar will discuss the impact of field heat stress on agricultural workers' physical and mental health and offer actionable strategies to protect them from its dangers.

The virtual webinar, which will be presented by Brandi Janssen, clinical professor in occupational and environmental health at the University of Iowa, is set for Aug. 5 from noon to 1 p.m.

Four key topics will be discussed:

Heat Burden: Trends Over Time, Increasing Night Heat, and Humidity

Effects on Human Health: Death Rates, Heat Illness, and Chronic and Acute Effects

Effects on Mental Health: Emerging Evidence and Workplace Consequences

Interventions and Strategies for Agriculture

To attend this webinar, please register online.

Heat-Stressed Harvests: Protecting Crops and Produce in Rising Temperatures

Another heat-related webinar will focus on how to protect growing and harvested produce from extreme heat. This webinar is ideal for small-scale and diversified vegetable and fruit growers, farmers market producers and anyone interested in improving produce quality and resilience during hot weather.

The webinar will take place on Aug. 19 from noon to 1 p.m. and will be presented by Suzanne Slack, assistant professor and extension fruit crop specialist at Iowa State.

Small-scale growers can expect to learn about relevant topics for their practice, including:

Basic Plant Physiology and Heat Response

Understanding Heat Units

Produce Heat Stress and Mitigation Strategies

Cooling Methods for Small-Scale Growers

Storage and Transport Considerations

To attend this webinar, please register online.

For more information on these webinars, visit the Heat-Smart and Heat-Stressed Harvests event sites or contact Alex Van Alstyne at alexv@iastate.edu or 515-294-3041.

Photo credit: Robert Peak/stock.adobe.com

Events and Activities : Two Webinars Will Examine Impact of Excessive Farm Heat on People and Produce

Comments