This document presents data from phase one of a three-phase study examining suicide rates among farm residents in five states (Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin) between 1980 and 1985. The first phase is described as involving identification of suicide cases and an initial analysis of their causes. The report contains a literature review, a listing of study objectives, and a description of the study methodology. Results are reported for each of four populations of farm residents identified as being at risk for suicide: farmers, farm women, farm workers, and children and adolescents. Areas discussed for each of these groups include trends across time; age, sex, and marital status; temporal dimensions; and mechanism of injury. It is noted that most of the 797 reported suicides were among farmers (N=589), with very few reported suicides of farm women, farm workers, or children and adolescents, and that death resulting from firearms led all methods involved in suicides among farm residents regardless of occupational cohort. The accuracy of suicide statistics is considered and recommendations for further study are made. Appendices contain information on baseline population data (1980-1985), suicide statistics (1980-1985), certificates of death, and data coding formats. (NB)