Key points: Studies in France and internationally show an increased risk of death by suicide among agricultural workers. However, few studies have examined the disparities among farm owners that may be associated with excess suicide mortality. This study, conducted among male farm operators between 2007 and 2011 in metropolitan France, highlights differences in suicide mortality based on their socio-professional characteristics, specifically: being between 45 and 54 years old compared to those under 35; operating a farm as an individual versus operating a farm as a member of a partnership; working as a full-time farmer versus working as a part-time farmer; having an utilised agricultural area (UAA) of 20 to 49 hectares versus having a UAA of over 200 hectares; a farm located in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Brittany, and Hauts-de-France compared to having a farm located in Grand Est. These initial findings should help guide suicide prevention efforts in the agricultural sector. These analyses should be repeated in the coming years to consolidate these initial results.