TL/DR –
The Senate’s failure to pass a new version of the Farm Bill has been described as a missed opportunity for climate action and safeguarding the health of farmworkers. Authored by an assistant professor of nursing, the article stresses the need for the legislation to address the challenges faced by farmworkers, who are 35 times more likely to die from heat-related causes than individuals in other jobs. The author urges policymakers to prioritize climate change mitigation and worker protection measures, including access to shade, cool water, and personal protective equipment, in future iterations of the Farm Bill.
The Senate’s recent inability to pass a new iteration of the Farm Bill signals a missed opportunity for climate change action and securing the health of our agriculture sector. This significant legislation extends beyond farming programs, impacting food assistance programs and being reauthorized typically every 5 years.
Delaying action is not just about politics, it has a human cost. I’m all too aware of this, having immigrated from El Salvador at a young age andinterpreting for my family, friends, and neighbors, many of whom worked outdoors. Their work-related injuries and struggle to navigate the healthcare system informed my journey to become a nurse.
Through my work with farmworker communities, I’m confronted with the realities of heat-exposed labor. These workers, who supply our grocery stores and feed our country, are too often unprotected from extreme heat and fail to advocate for themselves in fear.
The urgent need for change is clear. Farmworkers are at the frontline of our climate crisis, with the highest risk of heat-related deaths, being 35 times more likely to die than people in other professions.
My current work with the Farmworker Association of Florida aims to study the impact of heat exposure on farmworkers’ health. By monitoring workers’ temperature and vitals, we hope to understand the threats they face in real time.
Many workers are paid by the amount they harvest, encouraging them to work harder and longer despite the high temperatures. The reality of their working conditions is laid bare in their red faces and high body temperature even after leaving the field.
The Farm Bill needs to address these historic inequities and protect farmworkers. As record-shattering heat becomes more regular, the health threats to these workers increase. It’s upon our elected officials and policymakers to institute protections like breaks in the shade, access to cool water, and personal protective equipment.
The Farm Bill, known for shaping our agricultural sector, needs to incorporate climate change considerations. Policymakers must prioritize climate change when reauthorizing the bill by supporting conservation programs, incentivizing climate-friendly farming practices, etc.
Most people in the U.S. now accept that global warming is a reality. Climate change has dire health implications, and it’s crucial to make action a priority. As someone who’s known the struggles of these farmworkers first-hand, I strive to raise their voices and work towards a better future in the face of our changing climate.