Farm Safety Today, Success Tomorrow

Summary

The agriculture industry is vital to U.S. security and economy. It employs millions but poses high injury and fatality risks. National Farm Safety and Health Week 2026 (September 21 to 25) promotes "Safety Today, Success Tomorrow." This year's effort offers resources on equipment safety, health, generational farming, confined spaces, and cancer prevention. NIOSH advances research and practical solutions to protect agriculture workers and their families.

Agriculture-related industries

The production of our Nation's food, fuel, and fiber makes agriculture, forestry, and fishing (AgFF) extremely important to U.S. national and economic security. In 2022, agriculture, fishing, forestry, food, and related industries contributed approximately $1.537 trillion, or 5.5%, to the U.S. gross domestic product. While AgFF production industries directly employ 2.6 million workers (1.2% percent), it is dependent on industries such as food production, processing, and services; textile manufacturing; forestry products; and others. Together these agriculture-related industries employ 10% (or 1 in 10) of U.S. workers.

High risk workforce

Though they are critical to the productivity and prosperity of the nation, U.S. AgFF workers experience some of the highest occupational injury and fatality risks. In 2024, AgFF had a fatality rate of 20.9 per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers—more than six times the rate for all U.S. workers. Logging had the highest fatal injury rate of all U.S. occupations, followed by fishing and hunting.

One recent NIOSH-funded study estimated that injuries and deaths in agriculture annually result in an estimated $11.3 billion in medical costs and productivity losses.

Celebrating farm safety

Since 1944, the third week of September has been recognized as National Farm Safety and Health Week. This year's theme is "Safety Today, Success Tomorrow."

Each day focuses on an area of concern, providing resources for use throughout the year. There are many online trainings and in-person events. Search for events in your area and follow along on social media for free resources, safety tips, and tools you can use throughout the year.

Focus areas for safety

Equipment and rural roadway safety

Monday highlights transportation-related incidents, the leading cause of death among agriculture workers. Rural roads pose extra hazards, especially during fall harvest. Tractors and machinery can tip easily on unstable or sloped ground. Slow-moving vehicles like tractors and combines should display signs and proper lighting for visibility at dawn and dusk. To stay safe on the road, drivers can slow down in farm areas and ensure farm equipment operators wave them on before passing. Tractor operators can protect themselves by wearing seatbelts, using rollover protection, and checking lights and safety gear.

ATVs and UTVs (four-wheelers and side-by-sides) are common on farms, with 60% of occupational ATV deaths occur in agriculture. Added equipment like sprayers increases tip-over risk. To stay safe, riders can consider wearing protective gear and seatbelts on UTVs, avoiding riding alone, informing others of your route, only carrying passengers if your ATV is designed for it, knowing the terrain and weather, and avoiding paved roads, as ATV/UTV tires are not made for them.

Health and wellness

Tuesday covers how to remain resilient despite stress and uncertainty on the farm. Risk factors like high stress, job insecurity, and unpredictable/demanding schedules can lead to higher risk of chronic disease and depression. Heat stress and working outdoors during wildfire smoke events are also of concern. Agricultural workers are also at higher risk for injury because they often work alone, and for long hours – especially during planting and harvesting season. They may also experience social isolation.

Generations of farming

Wednesday offers tips for ensuring healthy farming for all generations. Multiple generations of a family can live and work on the farm. Farm families often experience challenges getting adequate childcare. As a result, 86% of farm families take care of children on the active farm worksite. Children working on family farms can participate in age and developmentally appropriate tasks to decrease health and safety risks. Finally, additional considerations can be taken to ensure older farmers can still live and work safely on farms since farmers often work well past the average retirement age.

Confined spaces

Thursday's focus is on confined spaces such as grain bins, silos, manure pits. To prevent safety hazards before entering a grain bin, workers can take time to review safety procedures, inspect equipment, and plan for emergencies. Working in a confined space should never be a solo job. Let others know when you're working in confined spaces and ensure that all lockout/tagout steps are followed. A standard operating procedure should be created for safely opening and entering silos.

Cancer prevention

Friday ends the week with cancer prevention steps related to work in agriculture. Agricultural workers spend long hours outdoors, increasing risk of skin cancer. Simple steps like wearing protective clothing, seeking shade, and using sunscreen can provide protection. NIOSH's Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards can also help identify potential hazards related to chemicals used on farms.

Our commitment to agriculture safety and health

NIOSH wants to keep people who work in agriculture safe and healthy. We do this by studying real problems and finding new information. Then, we use what we learn to create helpful solutions that can be used in everyday life. Visit NIOSH's Agriculture Safety and Health Program website for more information about our efforts to reduce injury, illness, and deaths for the nation's farmers, farm workers, and farm families.

Learn more about National Farm Safety and Health Week and participate in daily webinars and other activities on the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety's National Farm Safety and Health Week website.

Author information

K.C. Elliott, MA, MPH, CSP, is an Epidemiologist and Deputy Associate Director for the Office of Agriculture Safety and Health.

The author would like to thank the NIOSH Centers for Agricultural Safety and Health for creating 2026 NFSHW social media toolkit and the NIOSH Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) program for providing several agriculture-related reports which contributed to this bulletin.