By Blake Jackson
A research team from Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, working alongside the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, has secured a $250,000 grant from the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program to investigate how conservation agriculture practices influence the well-being of dairy farm workers and farm families.
The project, titled “Examining the Impacts of Conservation Agriculture on Farm Workforce Well-Being,” is headed by Kathleen Sexsmith, assistant professor of rural sociology.
The team also includes Florence Becot, Nationwide Insurance Early Career Professor and leader of Penn State’s Agricultural Safety and Health Program, Adrian Barragan, associate research professor of veterinary and biomedical sciences, and Alliance representatives Mauricio Rosales and Alexandra Neumann.
The study will focus on an area of agricultural sustainability that often receives less attention: the effects of conservation-focused farming practices on the people responsible for carrying them out.
Practices such as cover crops, reduced tillage, improved manure management, and riparian forest buffers are widely recognized for supporting soil health, environmental protection, farm profitability, and long-term sustainability. However, these approaches can also create new demands for farm workers and operators.
“Conservation agriculture discussions often focus on environmental outcomes and farm management practices, but there also is an important human dimension,” Sexsmith said.
“This project will help us better understand how conservation practices shape the daily experiences, safety and well-being of the people working on dairy farms.”
Researchers noted that conservation-minded operations can offer benefits, including lower chemical exposure, healthier livestock, increased job satisfaction, and greater understanding of sustainable farming methods.
At the same time, these systems may require additional labor, longer workdays, greater physical strain, and increased exposure to challenging weather conditions.
To better understand these impacts, the team will create a Conservation Agriculture Workforce Well-Being Assessment Tool.
Using case studies from six dairy farms, the framework will evaluate worker safety and health, compensation and work schedules, and overall job satisfaction. Input will be gathered from farm owners, family members, seasonal workers, and permanent employees.
“We have seen the tremendous impact that the conservation practices have on the lives of our farmers,” Rosales said.
“However, we have little understanding of the social effects of our projects. This partnership with Penn State will finally enable us to measure these impacts.”
The project will also develop educational resources to help farmers and conservation professionals support workforce well-being while advancing sustainable agricultural practices.
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Categories: Pennsylvania, Crops, Education