In 2000, The North Central Regional Administrators (NCRA) approved the establishment of the NCR-197 Committee on Agricultural Safety and Health Research and Extension. The goal of the committee was to more effectively use the land grant system’s research and extension capacity in cooperation with the expertise of those who live and work in agriculture to reduce work-related injuries, illness, death, and property loss. The committee’s work was intended to develop a structure for gathering stakeholder input and identifying and coordinating priorities for the agricultural experiment stations and cooperative extension systems in areas such as:

• Improving sensors and systems for the detection of toxic atmospheres in confined spaces, human presence protection in hazardous locations, and guarding and shielding of agricultural equipment;
• Applying ergonomic approaches to the safe design of agricultural equipment, workplaces and hand tools to reduce cumulative trauma disorders caused by vibration, repetitive motion, and over exertion;
• Understanding developmental characteristics of children as applied to task selection, risk-taking, parental decision-making, and injuries;
• Developing appropriate large animal handling systems which minimize risk of injury to humans and animals;
• Reducing exposure to dusts, microtoxins, pesticides and other agricultural chemicals, noise, sun,and other environmental hazards that present an occupational health hazard in the agricultural workplace;
• Understanding the limiting economic and social factors that impact agricultural producer and worker risk-taking and decision-making; and
• Preparing for, responding to, and recovering from agricultural-related emergencies and disasters.

The committee was comprised of representatives from 18 land grant institutions, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Over the course of two years, a set of specific committee objectives and corresponding action plans were developed using a consensus process. It was determined that the first objective to be undertaken would be to “Establish a national land grant research and extension agenda for agricultural safety and health.” 23 Statement