John Shutske
Position title: Professor and Extension Specialist: Safety Engineering and Agricultural Health
Email: john.shutske@wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 890-2949
Address:
B35 Agricultural Engineering Building
460 Henry Mall
Madison, WI 53706

Program Affiliations
- Biological Systems Engineering
- School of Medicine & Public Health (SMPH) Affiliate Professor
Education and Certificates
- B.S. 1983 – Agricultural Mechanization, Purdue University
- M.S. 1984 – Agricultural Mechanization, Purdue University, Modeling of Specialty Crop Machinery Systems
- Ph.D. 1988 – Agricultural Engineering, Purdue University, Agricultural Machinery Safety
Fields of Interest
- Safety engineering and education related to occupational and public health hazards in agricultural and food systems
- multidisciplinary approaches for solving complex risk-related problems
- design and evaluation of sensors and control systems to mitigate environmental and machine risks
- risk communication methods and limitations.
Teaching
- BSE 509: Biological Systems Engineering Senior Design (spring 2017 start)
- BSE 409: Career Management for Engineers (team teach, fall 2016)
- Several Cooperative Extension programs connected to agricultural technology, safety and human health
Publications
- Shutske, J.M. and Newman, J. 2013. Positioning Wisconsin Agriculture to Meet Global Needs: Challenges and Opportunities for Feeding the Next Generation. Status of Wisconsin Agriculture, 2013: 31-38. (annual reviewed monograph, available at: http://www.aae.wisc.edu/pubs/status/).
- Shutske, J.M. 2012. The 2012 Farm Bill: What Can We Expect? – Extension and Research. Status of Wisconsin Agriculture, 2012: 46-48. (annual reviewed monograph, available at: http://www.aae.wisc.edu/pubs/status/).
- Carlson, K.F., Gerberich, S.G., Alexander, B., Masten, A., Church, T.R., Shutske, J.M., Ryan, A.D., and Renier, C.M. 2009. Children’s behavioral traits and risk of injury: Analyses from a case-control study of agricultural households, Journal of Safety Research, 40(2): 97-103.
- Shutske, J.M., Pierquet, J., Michel, L., Rasmussen, R., & Olson, D. 2008. Evaluation of Food Protection and Defense Outreach Education Programs. Journal of Food Science Education. 7(4):69-77.
- Schermann, M. A., Bartz, P., Shutske, J. M., Moua, M., Vue, P. & Lee, T. 2008. Orphan Boy the Farmer: Evaluating Folktales to Teach Safety to Hmong Farmers. Journal of Agromedicine, 12(4), 39-49.
- Schermann, M.A., Shutske, J.M., Rasmussen, R.C., Jenkins, S.M., Vang, C.S., & Lor, M. 2007. Characteristics of Children’s Agricultural Tasks in Hmong Farming Communities. Journal of Agromedicine, 11 (3/4) 121-132.
- Carlson, C.F., Gerberich, S.G., Alexander, B.H., Masten, A.S., Church, T.R., Shutske, J.M., Ryan, A.D., and Renier, C. 2007. Intra-Familial Risk of Agricultural Injury in the Regional Rural Injury Study ¬ II: Beyond Behavioral and Environmental Risk Factors, American Journal of Epidemiology, 165(11): S127-506S, 2007.
- Carlson, C.F., Gerberich, S.G., Alexander, B.H., Masten, A.S., Church, T.R., Shutske, J.M., Ryan, A.D., and Renier, C. 2007. Children’s Agricultural Injury: Associations between Behavioral Traits and High-Risk Work Exposures, American Journal of Epidemiology, 165(11): S127-505S, 2007.
- Venem, M.T., Shutske, J.M., and Gilbert, W. 2006. Testing and Creation of a Safety System to Disengage the PTO of a Tractor. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. 22(1): 5-12.
- Shutske, J.M. 2004. Role of Agricultural Safety and Health Professionals in the Post-9/11 World. Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health. 10(4): 218-220.
- Rasmussen, R. C., Schermann, M. A., Shutske, J. M., & Olson, D. K. 2003. Use of the North American Guidelines for Children’s Agricultural Tasks with Hmong farm families. Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, 9(4): 265-274.
- Shutske, J.M. and Madsen Jenkins, S. 2002. The Impact of Biotechnology on Agricultural Worker Safety and Health. Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health 8(3): 277-287.
- Shutske, J.M., W. Gilbert and J. Chaplin. 2001. Evaluation of a Microwave/Infrared Human Presence System for Agricultural Equipment. Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health 7(4): 253-264.
- Gerberich, S.G., R. Gibson, R.L. French, C.M. Renier, T. Lee, W.P. Carr and J.M. Shutske. 2001. Injuries Among Children and Youth in Farm Households: Regional Rural Injury Study–I. Injury Prevention 7(2): 117-120.
- Gerberich, S.G., Gibson, R.W., Renier, C., French, R., Masten, A.S., Church, T., Luan, X., Jensen, K.E., Shutske, J.M., Carr, W.P., Risk Factors for Agricultural Injuries among Children: Regional Rural Injury Study ¬ II. American Journal of Epidemiology, 153(11): 2001.
- Shutske, J. 2000. Why Should Agricultural Health and Safety Professionals be Interested in Genetic Engineering Applications? Journal of Agricultural Health and Safety 5(4): 355-357.
- Tripp, R, D. Olson, J.M. Shutske and M. Schermann. 1999. Health and Safety Issues in Hog Production. Journal of Agromedicine 6(2):3-23.
- Tripp, R, J.M. Shutske, D. Olson and M. Schermann. 1998. Needs Assessment of Employers in Swine Production Facilities Regarding Employee Health and Safety. Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health 4(4): 231-243.
- Gerberich, S.G., R. Gibson, L.R. French, C.M. Renier, T. Lee, W.P. Carr and J.M. Shutske. 1998. A Population-Based Study of Machinery-Related Injuries: Regional Rural Injury Study – I (RRIS – I). Accident Analysis & Prevention 30(6):793-804.
- Lee, T.Y., S.G. Gerberich, R.W. Gibson, W.P Carr, J.M. Shutske and C.M. Reiner. 1996. A Population-Based Study of Tractor-Related Injuries: Regional Rural Injury Study. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 38(8): 782-793.
- Boyle D.J., D.L. Parker, C. Lexau, G. Wahl and J.M. Shutske. 1995. Agricultural Auger-Related Injuries and Fatalities – Minnesota, 1992-1994. Journal of the American Medical Association 274(22):1754-1755.
- Shutske, J.M., M.A. Purschwitz, L.D. Jacobson and K.A. Janni. 1995. Costs and Issues Associated With Implementing the Confined Space Standards in Waste Storage Facilities. Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health 1(2):83-91.
- Shutske, J.M. and P. Ohmans. 1995. Shifting the Paradigm: Rethinking Our Approach to Agricultural Safety and Health Issues. Journal of Agromedicine 2(3):39-46.
- Boyle, D.J., D.L. Parker, C. Lexau, G. Wahl and J. M. Shutske, 1995. Agricultural Auger-Related Injuries and Fatalities — Minnesota, 1992–1994. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 44(36): 660-663.
- Shutske, J.M. 1994. An Educator’s Perspective on Childhood Agricultural Injury Prevention. Journal of Agromedicine 1(4): 31-46.
- Greaves, I.A., D.K. Olson, J.M. Shutske and L. Kochevar. 1994. An Agricultural Safety and Health Needs Assessment for Rural Service Providers. Journal of Agromedicine 1(3):43-58.
- Shutske, J.M., W.E. Field and J. Chaplin. 1994. Grain Combine Fires: A Loss Reduction Approach. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 10(2):175-182.
- Madery, G., D. Parker and J.M. Shutske. 1993. Fatalities Attributed to Entering Manure Waste Pits – Minnesota. Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report 42(17): 325-329.
- Gerberich, S.G., R.W. Gibson, L.R. French, W.P. Carr, C.M. Renier, P.D. Gunderson, F. Martin, J.A. True and J.M. Shutske. 1992. Regional Rural Injury Study (RRIS): A Basis for Surveillance of Agricultural Injuries. American Journal of Epidemiology 136(8): 952.
- Gerberich, S.G., R.W. Gibson, P.D. Gunderson, L.R. French, F. Martin, J.A. True, J.M. Shutske, C.M. Renier and W.P. Carr. 1992. Regional Rural Injury Study (RRIS): A Population Based Effort. Human Sustainability in Agriculture: Health, Safety, and the Environment. pp. 198-199.
- Shutske, J.M., W.E. Field, L.D. Gaultney and S.D. Parsons. 1990. Agricultural Machinery Fire Losses: A Preventive Approach. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 6(5):575 580.
Selected Awards and Honors
- UW-Extension Chancellor’s Award, recognizing exceptional teaching, outreach, collaborations and public service of both UW Colleges and UW-Extension employees, as well as valued partners and supporters. 2016
- ASABE Superior Paper Award, presented to nominees with peer-reviewed journal articles deemed to be in the top 2.5% of those published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. 2007.
- University of Minnesota Star Faculty Award – Given to top 5% of UMN faculty based on performance in research, education, service and outreach. 2006
- Nolan Mitchell Young Extension Worker Award for outstanding contributions to agricultural safety and health. Presented by ASAE. 1998.
- Dean and Director’s Distinguished Diversity and Inclusion Award for the Minnesota AgrAbility Project and Minnesota Migrant Health Promoter Project. 1996.
Expertise Summary
On July 1, 2016, I returned to my faculty home in the UW’s Biological Systems Engineering Department. I have a split Extension (60%) and Teaching/Research (40%) appointment. My activities include research and education to help people apply, design, and evaluate new technologies, including sensors, robotics, automation, and wireless communication systems especially to reduce injuries and other negative health outcomes for people and the environment, while simultaneously pursuing enhanced profitability. I also have an affiliate faculty appointment in the UW’s Family Medicine Department within the School of Medicine and Public Health. This relationship includes working with health professionals, Extension colleagues, and agricultural services providers to reduce the burden of occupational illness and injury in farming. I will also be exploring the innovative development and adoption of new concepts and ideas in ag and food systems including “big data,” the Internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence, and virtual reality. I am excited to learn with others how we can apply these new ideas to safely and sustainably grow our food system as we face new challenges including the tremendous needs associated with a growing world population.