Mendocino County Farm Bureau is a member of California Farm Bureau Federation, a statewide organization of farmers and ranchers with 53 member county Farm Bureau organizations covering 56 California counties.

Mendocino County Farm Bureau programs and services, unless otherwise indicated, are available only to members of Mendocino County Farm Bureau. The political and other positions expressed in these pages are those of Mendoicno County Farm Bureau on various issues as they relate to Mendocino County.

California Farm Bureau Federation is a member of American Farm Bureau Federation, a national organization of farmers and ranchers with member state Farm Bureau organizations in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. The positions of the state Farm Bureau organization collectively are expressed through California Farm Bureau Federation. The positions of the national Farm Bureau organization collectively are expressed through American Farm Bureau Federation.

****************************************************************

Commentary: Farmers need extra protection in the sun

Issue Date: May 21, 2008
By Cyndie Sirekis
To many people, the approaching summer season means time off from school, carefully planned family vacations and sampling the freshest fruits and vegetables. On the down side, summer also brings insect bites, bee stings and sunburns. It's a season when farmers and ranchers need to take extra precautions to protect themselves from the perils of too much sun.
Several studies over the years have indicated a higher incidence of skin cancer fatalities for farmers. Summer sunburns and overexposure to UVA and UVB rays from the sun, even without visible burning, are summertime hazards that can have long-lasting effects. Frequent and prolonged sun exposure over many years is the primary cause of skin cancer. Joining farmers as groups at risk are people with fair complexions, redheads, blondes and people with blue or grey eyes.
Nonmelanoma skin cancers are the most common type diagnosed in the U.S. In 2008, more than 1 million cases will be diagnosed, and 1,000 people will die from this form of cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute.
The stats are grimmer for melanomas--an estimated 62,480 people will be diagnosed with this form in 2008. More than half of them will die from the disease, although not all in the first year after diagnosis.
Convincing farmers to take steps to reduce their risk of skin cancer by wearing sunscreen, wide-brimmed hats and long-sleeved shirts on a regular basis during the dog days of summer remains a challenge. Fortunately, extensive research has resulted in vastly improved sun protection products.
If you're not yet a regular sunscreen user, new innovations may help convince you to jump on the bandwagon. Clear, non-greasy, oil-free, fast drying and quick-spray are among the newest offerings on the shelf. Although initially developed with athletes in mind, sport, sweat-proof and waterproof formulas cut down on moisture running into anyone's eyes. Given the strenuous summer work undertaken by farmers, they would benefit from using these improved products.
Just remember, although sunscreen products have vastly improved, the old rule of thumb about sun protection factor (SPF) still applies--the higher the number, the greater the protection. Even if your summer work is conducted in what you might believe to be a protected tractor cab, it never hurts to take extra precautions against the dangers of the summer sun.
(Cyndie Sirekis is a director of news services at the American Farm Bureau Federation. She may be contacted at cyndies@fb.org.)
Permission for use is granted, however, credit must be made to the California Farm Bureau Federation when reprinting this item.

Heat illness prevention

The well-being of our workforce is a priority for all California farmers. Heat illness is a health and safety issue that farmers and ranchers have been concerned about for many years. Farmers recognize the potential risks of heat exposure, just as employers do in construction, manufacturing and other industries where heat is an issue. We take the necessary steps to protect our employees, not only from heat illness but from other potential health and safety hazards as well.
Here are some basic tips for heat illness prevention:

• Drink small amounts of water frequently
• Do not wait until you are thirsty to drink
• Start work earlier in the day, to avoid the afternoon heat
• Know how to recognize the symptoms of heat illness, such as poor concentration, cramping, fatigue, blurry vision, headache, dizziness, nausea, etc.
• If you notice heat illness symptoms in yourself or a co-worker, have the victim stop working, find shade, loosen clothing, get fluids, and fan the body with any item available
• Serious fluid loss can lead to heat stroke, which is an emergency - if this happens, seek medical help right away

Please check the Calendar, Notices & News pages for current items that might interest you.