Occupational Injury and Illness in Farmers with Prior Military Service

Background A significant portion of U.S. agricultural producers have served in the military. This population may face unique occupational health challenges. This study describes and compares occupational injury and illness outcomes of agricultural producers with and without prior military service. Methods Data from the 2023 Farm and Ranch Health and Safety Survey (FRHSS) were analyzed, including 2,367 producers from seven central U.S. states. Producers were categorized as having prior military service (MS, n = 289) or no prior military service (NoMS, n = 2078). Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression were used to compare demographics, farm characteristics, injury rates and characteristics, and chronic health conditions between the groups. Results The MS group was predominantly male (98.6%) and older (87.9% >60 years) compared to the NoMS group (83.5% male, 49.8% >60 years). The overall injury proportion was lower for MS producers (17.65%) than for NoMS producers (19.83%), though not statistically significant. When adjusted for age and sex, MS producers had higher odds of hearing loss (OR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.1–2.2) and skin disease (OR = 1.3, 95% CI: 0.9–1.8), including skin cancer (24.4% vs. 13.4%). The primary cause of injury for all producers was livestock. MS producers had a higher proportion of injuries involving power tools, while NoMS producers had more tractor-related injuries. Conclusions Agricultural producers with prior military service exhibit a distinct demographic profile and experience a significant burden of specific chronic health conditions, particularly hearing loss and skin disorders. While their overall injury rate was slightly lower, targeted safety interventions addressing their unique health vulnerabilities and promoting the use of protective equipment are essential to improving their long-term occupational health outcomes.