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Carly Hyland

Assistant Professor of Cooperative Extension, University of California-Berkeley
Chapter Member: Bay Area SSN
Areas of Expertise:

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Faculty Page

About Carly

Dr. Hyland’s work focuses on characterizing and mitigating the health impacts of interconnected climate-intensified exposures among agricultural and food systems workers (e.g., heat, wildfire smoke, pesticides). She works with interdisciplinary teams using community-engaged and mixed-methods approaches, with the ultimate goal of informing evidence-based policies and programs to protect food systems workers from climate change.

Contributions | No Jargon Podcast | Member Spotlight | In the News | Publications

Contributions

California Farmworkers Face Dual Threats from Extreme Heat, Pesticide Exposure

Commentary,

Congress Should Implement Climate Disaster Pay for Farmworkers

Congress Should Implement Climate Disaster Pay for Farmworkers

Key Findings Brief,

In the News

Quoted by Murphy Woodhouse in "Study: ‘Systemic’ Changes Could Better Protect Farmworkers as Climate Change Pushes Temperatures Higher," Boise State Public Radio News, March 15, 2024.
Guest on Idaho Matters, December 21, 2023.
Quoted by Jessica Kutz in "Pregnant Farmworkers in California are Eligible for Paid Time Off — but Many Don’t Know It Exists," The 19th, October 31, 2023.
Interviewed in "Cynthia Curl, Ph.D., and Carly Hyland, Ph.D. – Teaming up to Protect Agricultural Communities in Idaho," National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, September 19, 2022.

Publications

"'The Ones Who are on Their Best Behavior Keep Coming': H-2A Farmworkers in Idaho" (with Lisa Meierotto and Rebecca Som Castellano). Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development (2025).

Examines the experiences of H-2A farmworkers in Idaho, revealing the precarity, liminality, and lack of freedom they face despite legal protections like housing and wages. Highlights the logistical, financial, and emotional challenges these workers endure and calls for further research into the systemic vulnerabilities within the H-2A program.

"Mixed-Methods Assessment of Farmworkers' Perceptions of Workplace Compliance with Worker Protection Standards and Implications for Risk Perceptions and Protective Behaviors" (with Lisa Meierotto, Rebecca L. Som Castellano, and Cynthia L. Curl). Journal of Agromedicine 29, no. 3 (2024).

Examines how well farmworkers in southwestern Idaho are protected from pesticide exposure under the EPA's Worker Protection Standards (WPS). Finds that inconsistent workplace compliance—such as limited access to PPE, handwashing stations, and safety training—affects workers’ ability to adopt protective behaviors. Findings suggest that current WPS regulations may not fully align with workers' experiences or adequately protect them from pesticide-related risks.

"'No Matter How Hot It is, You Just Have to Do the Work': Examining Farmworkers’ Experiences With Heat and Climate Change in Idaho" (with Delmy Flores, Grace Augusto, Irene Ruiz, Marielena Vega, and Rulon Wood). Journal of Climate Change and Health 16 (2024).

Examines how climate change, especially extreme heat, negatively affects farmworkers' health in Southcentral Idaho. Interviews with 16 farmworkers revealed experiences of heat-related illness and the pressure to keep working despite dangerous conditions. These risks are worsened by poor housing, limited healthcare access, and systemic issues like discrimination.

"Examination of Urinary Pesticide Concentrations, Protective Behaviors, and Risk Perceptions Among Latino and Latina Farmworkers in Southwestern Idaho" (with Alejandra Hernandez, Éric Gaudreau, Jessica Larose, Jean-François Bienvenu, Lisa Meierotto, Rebecca L. Som Castellano, and Cynthia L. Curl). International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health (2024).

Compares pesticide exposure and risk perceptions between male and female farmworkers in Idaho. Finds that despite working fewer hours, women had similar pesticide levels in their urine, wore equal or more PPE, and reported higher rates of acute pesticide poisoning. Findings highlight the need for more gender-specific research, as women may face unique exposure risks due to job roles, susceptibility, or access to protective resources.