The New Paths Conference was held at Suncadia Resort, Cle Elum, WA, November 11-13, 2008. Presentations focused on new worker populations, research avenues, and innovative approaches for the prevention of disease and injury in agriculture. Participants included 126 academic and governmental researchers.

P R O C E E D I N G S
Choose the presentation title to access ppt slideshow or,
when available, select "abstract" for a topic summary.

• Ag Center Successes and New Directions,
  Richard Fenske, PNASH and Marc Schenker, Western Center
• Agricultural Safety & Health Council of America (ASHCA),
  Dan Hair, ASHCA
• Keynote: New Paths, New Travelers,
  Matthew Keifer, PNASH

• Overview of Changing Demographics of the Western Ag Workforce,
  Chair: Jeffrey Levin, Southwest Center
• Applying Community-based Participatory Research Principles: Cultural Considerations, Eva Doyle, Baylor University (abstract)
• Panel: Research with Populations at Risk - Lessons Learned from Research and Community Partner Perspectives
  Panel Members: Sam Byrd, Centro de Communidad y Justicia; Noa Roman-Muniz, Colorado State University; Nargess Shadbeh and Valentin Sanchez, Indigenous Peoples Program, Oregon Law Center Trang Vu, Vietnamese Community Volunteer (abstract)

• Determinants of Cholinesterase Inhibition in Pesticide Handlers,
  Jon Hofmann, PNASH (abstract)
• Developmental Effects of Pesticides on Children in Salinas,
  Kim Harley, Center for Children’s Environmental Health (abstract)
• Panel: Biomonitoring State of the Science – Where is New Technology Going?
  Panel Members: Shirley Gee, University of California at Davis; Matthew Keifer, PNASH; Chris Simpson, PNASH (abstract)

• New Understandings in Nose to Brain and Other Exotic Connections,
  Kent Pinkerton, Western Center (abstract)
• Inorganic Dust Exposure in Western Agriculture – Not Just a Nuisance,
  Marc Schenker, Western Center (abstract)
• Fine Particulates and Cardiovascular Disease,
  Joel Kaufman, University of Washington
• Panel: Bioaerosols in Dairy Barns
  Panel Members: Kent Pinkerton, Western Center; Scott Meschke, PNASH;
  Stephen Reynolds, HICAHS; Marc Schenker, Western Center (abstract)

• Ergonomics and Dairy Operations,
  John Rosecrance, HICAHS (abstract)
• Livestock-Handling Injuries,
  David Douphrate, HICAHS (abstract)
• Musculoskeletal Symptoms and Exposure to Knee Flexion Among Dairy Farmers,
  Matt Nonnenmann, University of Texas at Tyler
• Injury Risk Analysis in Large-Herd Dairy Parlors,
  John Rosecrance, HICAHS

Poster Presentation Abstracts

Photographs from the event are posted online on the PNASH FLICKR site.

Agricultural Tour

• Tour Map
• Good Fruit Grower articles:
• New Technology is Needed for both Traditional and New Orchards, by Geraldine Warner;
• Orchard Platforms Gain in Popularity Washington's Yakima Valley Orchardists are Reducing Labor Costs with Inexpensive Bin Trailer Attachments, by Melissa Hansen
• Avoiding Ladder Injuries: New Devices can Help Make Ladder Work Safer,
  by Helen Murphy
• Pest Management Transition Project, Washington State Univeristy

Speaker List

Participant List (pdf)

• AgHealth News from the Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety, University of California at Davis. Vol. 18 No. 1
• Environmental Health News, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington. Autumn 2008
  
• Journal of Agromedicine, a special edition of the Journal of Agromendicine will review New Path's thematice sessions. Fall 2009

• The "People's Choice for New Paths Best Speaker"goes to Karen Lewis for New Technologies in Tree Fruit Production - Labor Efficiency and Safety
• Best Student Poster, Biomarkers of Sensititivty and Exposure in Washington State Pesticide Handlers, Jonathan Hofmann
• Best Professional Poster, Agricultural and Work Characteristics among Children of Hispanic Farmworkers, Tamara Hennessy-Burt