When outside temperatures soar into the triple digits and the humidity becomes overwhelming, the majority of individuals retreat indoors. However, for Georgia’s farmers, agricultural workers, and landscaping professionals, the labor continues even when the heat index escalates to perilous levels.

As the hottest weeks of the year approach, the physical, mental, and emotional hazards of outdoor work intensify. Severe heat jeopardizes not only crops, turfgrass, and livestock but also exhausts the individuals who produce our food and care for our green environments.

To assist agricultural and horticultural workers in preparing for and coping with extreme heat, three University of Georgia Cooperative Extension experts are promoting awareness: Pam Knox, agricultural climatologist; Rolando Orellana, urban water management representative concentrating on the landscaping and ornamental sector; and Anna Scheyett, specialist in rural stress and behavioral health.

The post Safeguard your body and mind from extreme heat in Georgia agriculture originally appeared on UGA Today.