By Andi Anderson
Indiana recorded 17 farm-related fatalities in 2025, according to the latest Indiana Farm Fatality Summary released by Purdue University’s Agricultural Safety and Health Program. The findings indicate that farm fatalities continue a long-term downward trend, although farming remains one of the most hazardous occupations in the state.
The annual report is one of the oldest farm fatality monitoring systems in the United States. It gathers information from the Indiana Department of Labor, news reports, Extension educator observations, and voluntary witness accounts. The report also compares current data with more than six decades of farm safety records collected by Purdue University.
Data from 2025 showed that younger and older individuals remained among the most vulnerable groups. More than half of the documented fatalities involved people under the age of 18 or over the age of 60. The victims ranged in age from 3 to 79 years old, with an average age of 46.5 years.
The report also noted an increase in female farm-related fatalities. Three female deaths were documented during 2025, compared to one in the previous year. However, female fatalities continue to represent a small percentage of overall farm-related deaths recorded in the state.
Tractor-related incidents remained the leading cause of fatalities, accounting for five deaths, or nearly one-third of all cases. Other fatal incidents resulted from skid steer accidents, falls, tree-related events, and grain bin suffocation. These findings highlight the continued importance of safe equipment operation and awareness of workplace hazards.
In addition to fatalities, the report documented 37 non-fatal farm-related injuries during 2025. This figure was higher than in previous years. Safety experts emphasize that many non-fatal injuries are never officially reported, meaning the actual number is likely much greater.
Horse-and-buggy collisions represented the largest category of non-fatal injuries, with 13 recorded cases. This trend was consistent with previous years and reflected higher injury rates among Amish and Old Order farming communities. Other reported injuries involved farm equipment and vehicles, tractors, and grain bin or silo entrapment incidents. Victims ranged from 2 to 74 years old.
The report also revealed that every county in Indiana has experienced multiple farm-related fatalities during the past 40 years. In 2025, approximately one out of every 3,058 farms experienced a fatal incident, equal to about 18 fatalities per 100,000 farm workers.
Although the number of fatalities has steadily declined over recent decades, the report reinforces that farming remains a high-risk profession. Continued education, safety training, equipment maintenance, and hazard awareness remain essential to protecting farmers, workers, and family members across Indiana’s agricultural communities.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-alexeyrumyantsev
Categories: Indiana, Rural Lifestyle, Farm Safety