The Economic Impact for Farm Injury in Minnesota, 2004-2010.

Only 2% of Minnesota's employed population worked in agriculture between the years 2005 and 2012. However, this small portion of the state's employed population accounted for 31% of total work-related deaths in the state during that same time period. During a similar time period, 2007-2013, the contribution of agriculture to Minnesota's gross domestic product increased from approximately 1.5% to about 2.3%. This article describes the economic impact of injuries related to farm work between the years 2004 and 2010. Using hospital discharge data and the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), estimates of the number of injuries and fatalities related to agricultural work were compiled. A cost of illness model was applied to these injury and fatality estimates to calculate the related indirect and direct costs in 2010 dollars. Estimated total costs, in 2010 dollars, ranged between $21 and $31 million annually over the 7-year study period. The majority of the costs were attributable to indirect costs, such as lost productivity at work and home. Fatal injuries accrued the largest proportion of the estimated costs followed by hospitalized and nonhospitalized injuries. A sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the impact each selected data source had upon the cost estimate. The magnitude of the costs associated with these injuries argues for better surveillance of injury related to agriculture to prioritize resources and evaluate intervention and prevention programs.

Incidence Rates and Trend of Serious Farm-Related Injury in Minnesota, 2000-2011.

Only about 2% of Minnesota's workers were employed in agriculture for the years 2005-2012, this small portion of the workforce accounted for 31% of the 563 work-related deaths that occurred in Minnesota during that same time period. Agricultural fatalities in Minnesota and elsewhere are well documented; however, nonfatal injuries are not. To explore the burden of injury, Minnesota hospital discharge data were used to examine rates and trends of farm injury for the years 2000-2011. Cases were identified through the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM), injury codes and external cause of injury codes (E codes). Probable cases were defined as E code E849.1 (occurred on a farm) or E919.0 (involving agricultural machinery). Possible cases were based on five less specific E codes primarily involving animals or pesticides. Multiple data sources were used to estimate the agricultural population. An annual average of over 500 cases was identified as probable, whereas 2,000 cases were identified as possible. Trend analysis of all identified cases indicated a small but significant average annual increase of 1.5% for the time period 2000-2011. Probable cases were predominantly male (81.5%), whereas possible cases were predominantly female (63.9%). The average age of an injury case was 38.5 years, with the majority of injuries occurring in late summer and fall months. Despite the undercount of less serious injuries, hospital discharge data provide a meaningful data source for the identification and surveillance of nonfatal agricultural injuries. These methods could be utilized by other states for ongoing surveillance for nonfatal agricultural injuries.