Schulman Receives Award at the NC Agricultural Health & Safety Symposium

This news release was originally published by the NC Agromedicine Institute. Learn more about the symposium here. Contact Alyssa Spence for more information.

The North Carolina Agricultural Health & Safety Symposium, held March 20, 2024, at the NCA&T University Farm Pavilion, gathered agricultural researchers, healthcare practitioners, and other stakeholders to address critical issues surrounding the health and safety of agricultural workers and rural communities. The Symposium was hosted by the NC Agromedicine Institute (‘the Institute’).

The Symposium celebrated significant contributions to the well-being of farming communities across North Carolina and recognized collaboration and innovation in agromedicine in our state and beyond. The event featured distinguished speakers, a panel discussion, research, and other special presentations aimed at advancing knowledge and practices in agromedicine. Attendees gained insights into the latest research findings, innovative technologies, and strategies for promoting the well-being of farmers, farmworkers, foresters, fishermen, and their family members.

Michael Schulman was recognized as the Excellence in Agromedicine Research recipient for his long-term commitment to the Institute and for his excellence in agricultural-related research and student education. He is a William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor in the Department of Agriculture and Human Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at NC State University. Dr. Schulman has been actively involved with the Institute since its inception, specializing in the sociology of agriculture and rural sociology.

His work focuses on changes in the structure of agriculture and the social, psychological, and behavioral adaptations made by individuals and families to changes in economic conditions, the organization of work, and the labor process. Dr. Schulman has completed research on stress and adaptation to economic hardship among rural families, on changes in the structure of agriculture, and the decline of African American farmers. His experience is unique in that he is one of the only known researchers to have examined the sociological impact of farm stress in both the 1980s and the present day. Dr. Schulman is a co-author of a series of quantitative and qualitative publications about the work conditions, occupational hazards, and injuries experienced by young workers.

Most recently, he collaborated with the Rural Advancement Fund International (RAFI) on a project to address financial and emotional stress among limited resource farmers. He is a valued member of the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network—NC and Southern Ag Exchange (SAgE) networks, which are working to address stress among farm families in North Carolina and the southeastern United States.

On behalf of the NC Agromedicine Institute’s Board of Directors, Board of Partners, Institute Members, and all our community partners, congratulations to Dr. Schulman!