According to Purdue University’s nationwide report, there’s a concerning trend where the total number of grain dust explosions decreased in 2025, but the severity of those incidents—measured by injuries and fatalities—increased significantly.
There were seven grain dust explosions reported in the U.S. in 2025, a slight decrease from the nine reported in 2024.
However, despite fewer incidents, the human toll was higher. The 2025 explosions resulted in four fatalities and 10 injuries, compared to zero fatalities and two injuries in 2024.
Facility Types: The incidents occurred across a variety of operations, including:
- Two grain elevators
- One farm-operated grain elevator
- One seed processing facility
- One feed mill
- One flour mill
- One biofuel plant
The explosions were concentrated in the Midwest and South, with Texas and Ohio reporting two incidents each, and Minnesota, North Dakota, and Nebraska each reporting one.
Grain dust was the most common fuel source noted from incidents in 2025 having caused five explosions. The primary ignition sources identified also included smoldering grain, equipment maintenance work, and overheated bearings.
As such Purdue’s Kingsly Ambrose emphasizes the critical need for:
- Minimizing dust accumulation to prevent secondary explosions
- Performing preventive maintenance on equipment (especially bearings) before peak handling
- Properly aerating stored grain to prevent smoldering, which can act as an ignition source
The Purdue group has been collecting data related to grain dust explosions in the U.S. since 2012, and the initiative is supported by the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA).
