Walking in the Furrow
I saw Mom putting white paint on her newest apple tree. When I asked her about it, she said the white paint was supposed to protect the bark from insects that overwinter and to reflect some of the sun's radiation that can scald the tree and damage its bark. I started thinking about the effects of excessive UVA and UVB radiation on other farm life, too.
We all know that it's the ultraviolet radiation from the sun that gives us a great farmer's tan. We try not to listen when we hear that "tanned skin is damaged skin," and every summer we are warned that too much time in the sun can be dangerous and lead to skin cancer. (It's true for other months, too.) During the summer months I do try a little harder to be vigilant about wearing sunscreen, because there have already been days with highs over 100 and extremely high ultraviolet radiation levels. I've been reminded a time or two to slather on sunscreen and put on a pair of sunglasses to protect my eyes. This summer I bought an extra pair of safety sunglasses, because I can never find them when I need them. So, now I have one pair on the dash of the pickup truck and another pair in the tractor toolbox.
Purdue University has had ongoing studies into the effects of ultraviolet radiation by the sun on plants. Trees and crops need sunlight to grow and make their fruit/grain, but excessive ultraviolet radiation from the sun can also have adverse effects on the plant's DNA that can result in inheritable mutations. It has the potential to cause crop reduction due to disturbances in the cellular development and can alter plant reproduction. Fortunately many plants produce their own natural sunblock. During photosynthesis, they make certain chemicals within their cells that help block the damaging effects of the sun.
According to Purdue University, radiation from the sun can also have negative effects on farm animals, especially the light-colored animals. Light-colored sheep may experience sunburn most often on their face, but ultraviolet radiation can even penetrate their thick wool. The hides of the cattle that are largely white or light-colored, such as Holsteins, can be sunburned and they will be miserable and feel the pain from the sunburn in the same way we feel it. It is also possible for radiation from the sun to cause them to lose patches of hair, too.
Most farm animals and pets that are exposed to solar radiation may develop skin cancer, cataracts, optical tumors and more. Areas around their nose and eyes are sensitive to the sun and, again, those with white-hair are more vulnerable to the sun's radiation. Amazon has sunglasses for your dogs and cats and even something called "Snout Soother" to help with sunburned noses. There are sunblocks and special clothing that you can buy for your cats and dogs, including fashionable baseball caps to shade their eyes from the sun.
It's hard to stay out of the sun when you are a farmer, but the pets here on the farm have a good plan. The black Lab is content to sleep under the kitchen table when the sun beats down and the cats hang out in the haymow after hunting in the hayfield early in the morning. Stay sun safe!