AN annual report looking at injuries and fatalities on Australian farms was released on Sunday and it makes for sombre reading.
Made public by Farm Safe at the start of Farm Safety Week, the 2026 Safer Farms Report showed 53 people were killed and 182 seriously injured in 2025 doing work as part of the agricultural and horticultural sectors.
That means the death toll on Australian farms since 2019 is 427, with one person being killed on the land every six days.
Farmsafe Australia chair Felicity Richards said while the 2025 mortality and morbidity numbers were challenging, the report also highlighted some improvements.
“Most incidents don’t happen because people don’t care about safety,” she said.
“They happen during routine jobs, busy periods and moments of pressure when shortcuts begin to creep in.
“Whether we realise it or not, those moments matter because they become the standards we set and the standards others follow.
“Every day on Australian farms, people are watching. They watch how we approach a task, how we respond under pressure, what we walk past, what we accept and what we choose to challenge.”
Tractors, quadbikes and side-by-sides were still the biggest killer on Australian farms.
Ms Richards said little habits while working with those machines could make all the difference when it came to things like rollovers.
“It’s simple things like wearing a helmet, putting on a seatbelt, reducing speed and using rollover protection that can make a real difference,” she said.
The 2026 Safer Farms Report was sponsored by WFI Insurance, and executive general manager Damien Gallagher said his company backed the research because he wanted to make a difference.
“Every conversation about safety has the potential to prevent an injury, strengthen a business and protect a farming family,” he said.
“We’re proud to support initiatives that encourage practical leadership and help create safer outcomes across Australian agriculture.
“For many years, WFI has proudly supported the Safer Farms Report because meaningful change starts with understanding the risks, challenges, and opportunities facing Australian agriculture.
“This report combines evidence, practical ideas and the voices of farmers themselves to help strengthen safety across our industry.”
Farm Safety Week runs until 25 July and this year’s theme is Set the Standard: Show ‘em how it’s done.