According to data from the HSE (Health and Safety Executive), 29 people died while working in agriculture between 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, an increase of six from the previous year.
The industry is working hard to improve attitudes and practices to help prevent serious injuries and fatalities on farm, but these numbers clearly show that further change needs to happen.
The NFU is one of the key supporters of Farm Safety Week, which runs from 20 – 24 July and is managed and funded by the Farm Safety Foundation, otherwise known as Yellow Wellies.
“Remember, nothing on farm is as valuable as you are.”
NFU Vice-president Robyn Munt
Hear from the NFU Vice-president
NFU Vice-president Robyn Munt said: “These latest figures from the HSE serve as a stark reminder that farm safety is something we must all take seriously. Behind each of these numbers is a person whose life and the lives of their loved ones have been changed forever.
“We know farming can be an intensely pressured job, particularly during harvest when farmers are working around the clock to get crops out of the ground to produce the country’s food. However, even during these extra busy periods it is so important to keep safety at the forefront of our minds.
“The NFU is working with others across the industry to make changes to help reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries happening on farm.
“Our Take 5, Stay Alive campaign asks farmers to take five minutes to assess potential risks, prevent accidents and protect your mental health, whether that be replacing worn machinery or reaching out to a neighbour.
“Health and safety practices are about far more than ticking a box, they are about keeping you, your employees and even family members out of harm’s way. Remember, nothing on farm is as valuable as you are.”
‘It’s about people’
The 14th iteration of Farm Safety Week focuses on the life-changing impact of serious injuries and the thousands of lives that are permanently changed by accidents each year.
Farm Safety Foundation Manager Stephanie Berkeley said: “This campaign is about more than statistics – it’s about people and helping them understand the real human impact of farm accidents and encouraging safer behaviours so our farms become safer places for everyone who lives, works or visits them.”
Hear from NFU Vice-president Robyn Munt this Farm Safety Week
Machinery safety
Data from the HSE also shows that the highest number of deaths in agriculture for 2025/26 occurred as a result of working with machinery, underling the importance of safe practices as harvest gets underway.
This includes routine maintenance of vehicles and machinery such as combines, ensuring employees are sufficiently trained to use farming equipment, avoiding shortcuts and assessing risks before undertaking a task and taking sufficient rest periods to stay alert.
Wildfire risk
Amid the ongoing hot weather, the NFU is also highlighting the increased risk of wildfires on farmland and combine fires.
Robyn said: “British farmers are adaptable to changing weather conditions, but the extremely high temperatures we have been seeing in recent weeks is not without its challenges and safety risks.
“We encourage farmers to combine at night as temperatures remain high to help keep them safe while bringing in the crop this harvest.”
Read our latest Farm Safety Focus: Harvesting at night – key safety considerations | NFUonline
