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Learning From Farm Injury Statistics

Injury statistics can feel distant or frightening. Used well, they point to patterns that help you decide where to put your attention.

What do injury statistics actually tell you?

Statistics summarize what happened to groups of people over a period of time. They can show which kinds of work and equipment are linked with harm, and which groups of people are affected. They cannot tell you what will happen on your farm tomorrow.

Look for the patterns, not the headlines. The same hazards appear again and again, such as machinery, vehicles, animals and storage structures, and that tells you where prevention effort tends to matter.

It also helps to remember that every figure stands for real people and families. Reading the numbers with that in mind keeps the focus on care rather than on comparison or curiosity.

Where do the numbers come from?

Federal agencies such as NIOSH and the U.S. Department of Labor, universities and some state programs gather and publish information. Each source counts different things in different ways, so numbers from one source often cannot be compared with another.

Check the source, the year and the definition before you rely on a figure. This article does not quote numbers, because they change and you should read the current official version.

• NIOSH agricultural safety and health
• U.S. Department of Labor and OSHA
• University and extension reports
• State agriculture and health departments

What are the limits and blind spots?

Small family farms, young workers, unpaid family helpers and informal work are often undercounted. Many injuries never reach a hospital or a report, and some are treated at home.

Statistics also lag behind. Equipment, crops and practices change quickly, so older figures may not describe the farm you run today.

Some groups appear less in the data because they are harder to reach, such as seasonal workers, children who help informally and older farmers who keep working. Ask who might be missing from any report you read.

• Small and family farms
• Seasonal and migrant workers
• Children and teens who help
• Older farmers who keep working

How do you avoid fear and blame?

Numbers about death and injury are hard to read, especially for families who have lost someone. Approach them with respect. A statistic is a person, and the goal is prevention, not judgment.

Do not use data to blame victims. Almost every serious incident involves a chain of causes, including equipment design, time pressure, training and conditions, not one person's mistake.

If you are speaking with a family who has lost someone, avoid quoting statistics at all. Listen first, and let them lead.

How can you turn patterns into action on your farm?

Pick the hazard types that match your operation and ask what you already do about each one. Then choose one or two steps to strengthen this season, such as a guard repair, a training course or a rule about children in work areas.

Write down who is responsible and when you will check progress. Ask your extension office or a farm safety specialist for help choosing steps that fit your equipment.

• List your top hazards by type of work
• Check what controls you already have
• Choose one or two improvements
• Name an owner and a date
• Review and adjust

What local information adds to national data?

Your own near misses, your neighbors' experiences and the observations of your veterinarian, mechanic and fire department tell you what the national picture cannot. Local stories help people remember.

Share lessons with respect for privacy. Do not name families or people without permission.

Ask your extension office whether any regional or state groups collect local information, and whether they have summaries you can use in a meeting or newsletter.

• Your own near misses
• Neighbors' experiences
• Veterinarian and mechanic observations
• Fire and rescue department input

Where should you go for current figures?

Visit the official sites of NIOSH, OSHA and the CDC, and ask your extension office for regional summaries. Read the notes about what the data include and exclude.

If you are writing a report or giving a talk, cite the source and year, and do not repeat numbers you cannot verify.

Keep a short list of the sources you trust, and revisit it each year to see whether the guidance has been updated.

• Check the date on every figure
• Read what the data exclude
• Cite the source when you share
• Avoid repeating numbers you cannot verify

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