Farmworkers
Farmworkers are essential workers in our food system who perform the labor-intensive tasks of planting, cultivating, and harvesting crops and tending to livestock. This population comprises seasonal, full-time, and part-time laborers working in agricultural settings; they collectively, produce society’s food. Farmworkers face significant health disparities, including pesticide exposure, dangerous working conditions, lack of access to healthcare, and poor living conditions. Addressing these issues can improve health outcomes for farmworkers and their families, and lead to more just and sustainable agriculture and food systems.
Farm work in the U.S. has a legacy of labor exploitation and unsafe working conditions. Economic pressure to keep labor costs low incentivizes low wages and under-investment in workplace conditions. The Fair Labor Standards Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and other federal, state, and local policies provide certain, albeit insufficient, protections for farmworkers. As prime example, federal policies often fail to fully protect farmworkers due to exemptions that exclude many agricultural workers from overtime pay and certain health and safety provisions. Enforcement of existing laws is often insufficient, and many farmworkers—particularly undocumented immigrants—face barriers to reporting abuses and accessing legal remedies. This combination of limited coverage and weak enforcement leaves many farmworkers vulnerable to exploitation and hazardous working conditions.
Fair wages, safe working conditions, access to healthcare and legal protections, and the inclusion of farmworkers' voices in policy discussions can help advance health equity for farm workers. Addressing systemic barriers is also crucial. Through systems change efforts, like expanding health and safety protections under the law, providing healthcare insurance, and reducing pesticide use, we can improve farmworker health. Addressing systemic barriers such as discrimination, lack of labor protection, and resource support is important. Changemakers can advance farmworker well-being by advocating for comprehensive immigration reform, pushing for labor law reforms that include farmworkers, supporting unionization efforts, and promoting fair trade and ethical sourcing practices. Forming coalitions with farmworker organizations and unions can support farmworker health and justice.
Resources & Tools
Essentially Unprotected: A Focus on Farmworker Health Laws and Policies Addressing Pesticide Exposure and Heat-Related Illness
Resource - Report
Brought to you by Vermont Law School
Farmworkers and COVID-19: Community-Based Partnerships to Address Health and Safety
Resource - Journal Article
Brought to you by APHA
Essential and in Crisis: A Review of the Public Health Threats Facing Farmworkers
Resource - Report
Brought to you by Johns Hopkins University
Essential and Expendable: The Rise of Agricultural Labor and the United Farm Workers
Resource - Website/webpage
Extend Labor Rights to Domestic and Agricultural Workers
Resource - Policy Brief
Brought to you by WIN Network
Published on 04/16/2021
Strengthening SNAP: Opportunities in the 2023 Farm Bill
Resource - Blog
Brought to you by Bipartisan Policy Center Inc.
Building Resilience in a Changing World: AFT’S 2023 Farm Bill Recommendations
Resource
Brought to you by American Farmland Trust
In Common Newsletter: Farm Bill 2023
Resource
Brought to you by Community Commons
Published on 12/08/2022
Farm Labor Data Dashboard
Resource - Data Bank/repository
Brought to you by National Center for Farmworker Health
Reenvisioning Rural America: How to Invest in the Strengths and Potential of Rural Communities
Resource - Website/webpage
Brought to you by Urban Institute
In Common Newsletter: The Growing Gap
Resource
Brought to you by Community Commons
Published on 03/23/2022
NEJM Article: Supporting Climate, Health, and Equity Under the Farm Bill
Resource - Journal Article
Brought to you by APHA
2023 Farm Bill: Advancing Public Health at the Intersection of Food, Environment, and Economic Policy
Story
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Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
Why WA’s Farmworkers Are Disappearing
Story - Written
Brought to you by The Seattle Times
Published on 03/28/2024
The Resurgence of Waffle Gardens Is Helping Indigenous Farmers Grow Food with Less Water
Story - Written
Brought to you by Civil Eats
Pop-up Clinics Bringing Vaccines to People who Need Them Most: Meeting People Where They are on COVID-19
Story - Written
Brought to you by APHA
Harvesting Health and Hope Through Farmer-Health Care Cooperation
Story
-
Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
Published on 04/17/2018
There Aren’t Enough Young Farmers. Congress Is Looking To Change That
Story - Written
Brought to you by NPR
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