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Farm Safety Research and Data

Researchers study farm injuries to learn what works. Knowing where the information comes from and how to read it helps you use it well.

Who studies farm safety?

Federal agencies, universities and regional centers collect and study information about farm injuries, illnesses and prevention. NIOSH runs agricultural safety and health programs, and land-grant universities and extension offices share findings with farmers.

OSHA and the U.S. Department of Labor also publish information related to workplace safety. Visit official sites for current material and reports.

Reports often include recommendations for prevention. These are written by people who have studied many cases and are worth reading even when the numbers do not apply to you directly.

• NIOSH agriculture programs
• Land-grant university research
• Extension publications
• OSHA and Department of Labor materials
• Look at NIOSH agricultural safety programs
• Check your land-grant university extension
• Read OSHA agriculture pages
• Visit CDC pages on injury prevention

Where can you find reliable information?

Start with official and university sources. Look at who wrote the material, when it was published and what data it used. Be cautious about social media posts and anecdotes that cite numbers without a source.

If a number matters to a decision, check the original source and its date, since conditions and definitions change.

Look for plain-language summaries from extension offices when journal articles are hard to read. They often turn findings into practical steps.

• Note who wrote it and who funded it
• Prefer original sources over summaries online

How do you read research carefully?

Ask who was counted, over what time and in what places. Data about one region or crop may not match your situation. Different sources define injuries and workers differently, so figures often cannot be compared directly.

Remember that research describes groups, not individuals. A trend does not tell you what will happen on your farm.

When you read a headline about farm injuries, ask what was measured, who was included and how recent it is. Resist drawing sweeping conclusions from a single report.

• Who was counted
• What years the data cover
• Which regions were included
• How terms like injury were defined

What are the limits of the data?

Many injuries are never reported, especially on small family farms, so counts can be incomplete. Reports also lag behind real events.

This is why local knowledge matters. Your own near misses and your neighbors' experiences add context that no national report can supply.

Underreporting is not a reason to dismiss data. It is a reason to treat the numbers as a floor, not as the full picture.

• Small farms may be undercounted
• Reports lag behind events
• Definitions differ between sources

How do you turn findings into action?

Look for recurring themes in the research, such as machinery, vehicles, animals and storage hazards, then check how they apply to your operation. Choose one or two changes you can make this season.

Ask your extension office or a farm safety specialist for help matching findings to your equipment and routines.

Revisit the change after a few weeks and ask whether it is working. Adjust if it is not, and share the result with others.

• Pick one hazard to address
• Decide who is responsible
• Set a date to check the result
• Share what you learned with the crew
• Review the result after a few weeks
• Share what worked with neighbors

How can you contribute?

Some programs invite farmers to take part in surveys or reporting. Participation is voluntary, and you should only share what you are comfortable sharing. Never give personal information to a site you do not trust.

You can also share your own lessons with neighbors, young farmers and local groups in simple words.

Respect privacy when you share stories. Do not name injured people or families without their permission.

• Participation is always voluntary
• Never share personal details with unknown sites
• Share lessons without naming people

What should you do with new research?

Treat new findings as one input among many. Talk with your extension office and check guidance from OSHA, NIOSH and equipment manufacturers before changing a practice.

Review the sources you rely on each year, since official guidance is updated.

Ask your extension safety specialist how new research changes recommendations.

• Check the date
• Check the source
• Check whether it applies to your farm
• Ask an expert if unsure
• Compare new guidance with manufacturer manuals
• Talk with your extension office before changing a practice

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.