Surgeon General's Conference on Agricultural Safety and Health, 1991

On April 30-May 3, 1991, CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) convened the Surgeon General's Conference on Agricultural Safety and Health in Des Moines, Iowa. The theme for this conference was "FarmSafe 2000: A National Coalition for Local Action." Agricultural safety and health professionals, equipment manufacturers, farmer and migrant health organizations, rural health-care professionals, and agricultural youth organizations met to deliberate on methods to reduce health and safety risks in agriculture. More than 700 persons attended and represented 41 states and Puerto Rico. Through small-group interactive discussions, the conference addressed surveillance, research, and intervention--three public health activities necessary to meet year 2000 national health objectives (1). This report summarizes the issues considered at the conference and recommendations proposed by attendees.