2026 Cancer in Iowa Report highlights cancer incidence among Iowa’s farming population
The Cancer in Iowa Report, published annually by the Iowa Cancer Registry, provides an overview of the current burden of cancer in the state. This year, an estimated 21,700 Iowans will be diagnosed with cancer, and about 6,400 Iowans will die from the disease. The number of cancer survivors continues to rise, with approximately 175,290 survivors now living in Iowa.
The 2026 Cancer in Iowa Report features findings from the Agricultural Health Study, one of the world’s largest and longest-running active studies of agricultural exposures and health. The study began in the mid-1990s and includes more than 89,000 farmers, commercial pesticide applicators, and their spouses from Iowa and North Carolina. In Iowa, this includes more than 31,000 private pesticide applicators, 4,900 commercial applicators, and nearly 21,000 spouses.
The Agricultural Health Study examines how agricultural, lifestyle, and genetic factors influence the health of farmers and plays a key role in understanding potential risks.
