Last week, in preparation for the harvest season, I offered some safety tips and a preview of National Farm Safety and Health Week, Sept. 21-27, 2025. This year’s theme is “Safety First, Avoid the Worst.” Find info and additional resources at https://www.necasag.org/.
The worst. If you take that to the extreme, one must talk about farm fatalities.
Compiled by the Purdue University Agricultural Safety and Health Program, the recently released “2024 Indiana Farm Fatality Summary with Historical Overview” is now available. Yuan-Hsin Cheng, Edward Sheldon, and Bill Field authored the report. I will use excerpts from the report for this article.
The report states that the annual number of farm-related injuries and deaths continues to show a general downward trend that parallels the decline in the number of farm operations. The state is producing more grain, meat, eggs, and other agricultural products at a lower rate of fatalities and injuries than at any time in its history. However, while the total number of farm-related deaths has gradually declined, the fatality rate per number of workers remains one of the highest of all Indiana occupations.
According to the report, in 2024, there were 28 reported fatalities, which is the highest over the past five years and an increase of 13 or 87% from 2023. Three victims were under the age of 18, and 16 individuals were aged 60 and older. 67% of documented cases fell within these two age groups. The age range of the victims spanned from 1 to 85, with an average age of 57.6.
Tractors continue to be the most common cause of farm-related fatalities, accounting for as many as 38% of all documented cases in the last ten years, with 12 reported cases in 2024. Tractor overturns have consistently been the primary contributor to fatalities in farm-related incidents. During the past 31 years, tractors were involved in 319 or 44% of the total of all Indiana fatalities.
Amish and Old Order communities in the state continue to account for a disproportionate number of farm-related deaths. Key hazards include the use of older tractors without ROPS (Roll-Over Protective Structures), self-propelled mowers on steep slopes, tree felling and working in wooded areas, working with livestock such as horses and bulls, and carrying extra riders on equipment.
The report said the 28 fatalities in 2024 exclude fatalities from motor vehicle incidents involving farm vehicles (unless they occurred during active farm work), recreational use of ATVs – even on farm land, preexisting health conditions such as heart attacks, and medical issues from long-term workplace exposures like chronic pesticide use. According to the report, data on the impact of such factors – especially agricultural chemicals – on Indiana farmers and farm workers remains limited.
In 2024, the report states that five documented cases, both fatal and nonfatal, were caused by tree or tree limbs falling on victims, all of whom were men between the ages of 54 and 72. These incidents involved individuals engaged in farm-related tree-cutting or trimming activities.
Indiana ranks number one historically in the number of documented grain entrapments. In 2024, there were two documented fatal entrapments. The authors believe, however, that our number one ranking has more to do with the aggressive nature of Purdue’s ongoing surveillance efforts rather than the actual number of incidents that occur in other states.
There continues to be strong interest in addressing the problem of “farm-related stress” and farmer suicides. A new national suicide prevention toll-free line (988) was implemented in July 2022, with trained professionals available to assist callers through their difficult times. Additionally, Purdue Extension has a Farm Stress Team and offers a program called “Mental Health First Aid.”
Two of the most significant contributors to the reduction in the frequency of Indiana’s farm-related fatalities, beyond the introduction of safer technology, have been the increased capabilities of rural emergency first responders and rapid access to high-quality emergency medical services. Injuries not survivable 20 or 30 years ago are being successfully addressed by better-trained first responders and rapid deployment of air transport medical services.
Before we conclude this discussion, let’s not forget the serious non-fatal injuries that can and do occur on farms. Some of these can be life-altering injuries.
Accidents happen in farming and in other avenues of life. None of us knows when our last day on earth will be. What is even more upsetting are accidents that could have been prevented with a “safety-first” attitude. Please slow down and think about what you’re doing, especially around machinery.
Find the full 2024 report, along with previous reports, at https://www.purdue.edu/engineering/ABE/INPREPared/indiana-farm-fatality-summaries/.