The aging farm workforce: work, organization, health, and social dimensions.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Rayens MK ; Reed DB ; Westneat S
• Description:
  The average age of the nation's workforce is 38, but the average age of its farmers is 55. Half of America's farms are operated by persons age 55 and over; 17% are operated by persons over age 70. Despite the rapid aging of the agricultural worker, little is known about their work, work organization, or why they remain in this hazardous occupation. There are no guidelines on farm practices for senior aged farmers. The purpose of this study is to provide data that can be used to develop interventions to optimize healthy and safe working conditions for older farmers and provide a better understanding of what motivates them to remain in their vocation. A cohort of farmers age 50 and over and their spouses (n=1,143) were enrolled in a four year study that elicited data on farm type, current work, work organization, health status, and sociologic work items. Four mailed and telephone surveys were conducted (response rate 67.6%) and three rounds of focus groups (total n=122) were conducted from 2003-2005. Data collection intervals ensured capture of seasonal variation in farm work. Farm type was predominantly mixed livestock/crop farms (63%). Average age of the respondent was 65, and gender was split equally, with 80% White and 20% Black. One-third reported being in excellent/very good health, and averaged two health conditions. Three-fourths took at least one prescription medication daily, 28% reported difficulty being on their feet for two hours, and 40% admitted difficulty stooping or kneeling. Despite these limitations, subjects scored high in measures of self-efficacy, and only 12% scored >16 on the standard CES-D depressive symptoms scale, better than the general elderly population. "Health" was defined as the ability to work by 40% of the sample. This was reflected in the type and amount of work they reported. Males reported performing 11 farm tasks in the past 12 months, with a mean of 19.2 hours worked in the past week. As age increased, ground tillage and hand harvesting decreased, but no change was detected in work associated with livestock or business decisions. Over half the respondents held a concurrent off-farm job. Over half did not foresee passing on farm management or farm work or changing farm type in the next 5 years. Most (60%) reported great satisfaction from their farm work; satisfaction increased with age. Focus group data supported that technology and production modifications were used to remain in physical production process while decreasing time demands. Participants planned to work until health forced them from the fields. When discussing retirement more attention was placed on the future of the farm than on health or desire to retire. Work was portrayed as stress relief, something to be enjoyed, a measure of health status, and self-identity. The findings illuminate the need to provide appropriate health and work counseling for older farmers in order to optimize healthy and safe work conditions. While other industries provide retirement benefits that make it attractive to stop working, farmers perceive work as its own benefit.
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Air Pollutants, Occupational Coal Coal Mining Dust Mining Occupational Health Particulate Matter Safety
• Keywords:
  Age Groups Aging Aging Workforce Agricultural-industry Agricultural-processes Agricultural-workers Demographic Characteristics Farmers Farm Workers Hazards Health Protection Racial Factors Safety Measures Sociological Factors Statistical Analysis Workers Work Organization Work Practices

  More +
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Abstract
• Place as Subject:
  Kentucky ; OSHA Region 4
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  86-87
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20052943
• Citation:
  NORA Symposium 2006: Research Makes a Difference! April 18-20, 2006, Washington, DC. Washington, DC: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 2006 Apr; :86-87
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2006
• Performing Organization:
  University of Kentucky
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20010930
• Source Full Name:
  NORA Symposium 2006: Research Makes a Difference! April 18-20, 2006, Washington, DC
• End Date:
  20070929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:3ee79bb21a98a68cac2f1425e2e27b42406db717fb2e0be11a66e8df1db325af6aba872c960aad58a7681b525399e23668c35e17c03f2ae32743be8996cb40b3
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/181733/cdc_181733_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 355.11 KB ]