As the daily high temperatures linger in the triple digits, dipping only into the upper 90s in the days ahead, farmers in Stanislaus County persevere in the heat.
Daniel Bays, a farmer in Westley, adjusts his routine during the heat wave. He and his employees begin work earlier in the morning, taking advantage of the cooler hours and aiming to wrap up by noon. Some days, they opt for shorter work periods.
Tasks that demand fieldwork are scheduled for nighttime, despite it being harder to see.
He notes that it’s hottest between 2 and 6 p.m.
Productivity takes a hit during hot weather as everyone’s energy levels decrease. Despite this challenge, he said he strives to maintain crop vitality, achieve a successful year in business and ensure everyone is fed.
“We try to stay flexible with whatever Mother Nature throws at us and take care of each other so we’re all here for tomorrow, next week and next year,” Bays said.
Anja Raudabaugh, CEO of Western United Dairies, has observed a rise in both the intensity and frequency of heat waves in the Central Valley.
Western United Dairies employs various technologies to beat the heat, including large-scale evaporative cooling fans, drip systems and air conditioning.
Despite preparations including backup generators for power outages, Raudabaugh remains concerned about potential grid failures. “I am worried about the length of this heat wave. I don’t know what we’re gonna do,” she said. “I think we’ll persevere through it, but it’s going to be a miserable week.”
Agricultural workers face higher risk
Cal/OSHA implemented the heat illness prevention standard, which includes mandates for employers when temperatures exceed 95 degrees, such as providing at least 10-minute breaks every two hours.
Water, rest and shade are the three elements that need to be provided, said Anna Genasci, communication and education director at the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau.
The Farm Bureau conducts annual heat illness prevention classes in both English and Spanish, ensuring that employees receive necessary training on preventing heat-related illnesses.
Farmworkers are 35 times more likely to die from heat-related stress than workers in other industries, according to research .
In 2008, a pregnant 17-year-old agricultural worker died from a heat stroke while tying grape vines on a farm near Stockton. The incident catalyzed the “water, rest and shade” campaign and raised awareness about heat illness among agricultural workers.
Symptoms of heat-related illnesses include heavy sweating, elevated body temperature, dizziness and confusion. If someone starts exhibiting any sort of fatigue, it’s essential to get the person to a hospital quickly, Genasci said.
Some agriculture employers are providing electrolytes and ice pops to their employees to help them stay cool and hydrated, Genasci said. She advises avoiding alcohol, energy drinks and caffeine, which can make you more dehydrated.
Bays said some workers are reluctant to work shorter days because it reduces their hours.
Under Wage Order 14, which applies to most agricultural workers, there are regulations specifying that if employees are asked to report for work but sent home early due to heat, they are entitled to a minimum amount of pay. Even if hours are cut due to heat conditions, workers must still receive compensation for a specified duration.
Raudabaugh said her greatest concern is for undocumented farmers, because many feel compelled to endure extreme heat conditions without complaint. The pregnant teen who died in 2008 was undocumented.
Raudabaugh hopes for a shift in this mindset if there were greater security in their immigration status.
Impact on crops and livestock
Raudabaugh said dairy cows don’t handle heat well, so keeping them cool is important. Farmers use fans, evaporative coolers, waterbeds and cold water dripping down the animals’ backs.
When older cows are exposed to really excessive heat, they start to die, she said. “They cannot handle it,” she said.
Genasci said some crops also become stressed in the heat, so it’s best not to disturb them too much by, for instance, fertilizing or overwatering.
“Obviously, we want the work to get done. But we got to take care of our people or they’re not going to take care of the crop,” she said.
Most Popular
Comments / 0