Professor and Extension Specialist
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences l School of Medicine and Public Health
Currently Not accepting Talk Requests
John Shutske is a professor and Cooperative Extension Specialist at the University of Wisconsin – Madison in Biological Systems Engineering. Professor Shutske has 32 years of experience working as a partner with the agricultural community, Extension educators, health professionals, engineers, and agribusiness leaders. His work has focused on agricultural health, safety, and risk control and communication. John’s research and work in the past two years has focused on issues of airborne hazards in the farm workplace; stress, distraction, decision-making, and impacts of stress on health and injury risk; and, examining the possible role of agricultural workers in the spread of antibiotic resistance risk in the human population. In addition to his faculty role in Biological Systems Engineering, Shutske holds an affiliate Professor appointment in UW-Madison’s Family Practice Department in the School of Medicine and Public Health and works with students in the Wisconsin Academy of Rural Medicine.
Talks:
The Exciting Future of Global Agriculture
This details what the “future” of agriculture looks like both from a “people” perspective as well as future technology. This includes the notion of ‘feeding 9 billion people’; the role of women; barriers/headwinds; and the use of sensors, computers, artificial intelligence, new tech-enabled business models, and big data. This is a high level talk to get people jazzed about the future and where things will head.
Agriculture: America's Most Deadly Industry
Professor Shutske has numerous talks on the workplace hazards associated with agriculture (farming). This includes the high rate of injury, disease, airborne hazards and other risk factors. He recommends this talk for rural community leaders health professionals, and others who have an indirect “multiplying” effort.
Our Brain on Stress
This presentation cruises through some of the latest brain and health science that shows impacts of stress on farmers, workers, groups in business, and family members. Stress triggers specific changes in our brain that lead to distraction, difficulties in making decisions, poor communication, safety issues, and a range of physical and mental health concerns that can spiral out of control. It is important that agricultural professionals and service providers understand these effects and can help farmers and family members better cope and manage during these times of change, uncertainty, economic pressure, and other conditions often well out of a farmer’s sphere of influence. He will use a case study to discuss ways to recognize these effects in a family setting and specific approaches that agricultural professionals and service providers can take to mitigate stress impacts and improved communication with clients.