Key points: Studies in France and internationally show an increased risk of suicide among agricultural workers. However, few studies have examined the disparities among farm operators that may be associated with excess suicide mortality. This study, which examined male farmers in metropolitan France between 2007 and 2011, highlights differences in suicide mortality based on their socioprofessional characteristics, specifically: being between the ages of 45 and 54 compared to those under 35; operating a farm as a sole proprietor compared to operating a farm as a corporate entity; working as a full-time farmer compared to working as a part-time farmer; an utilised agricultural area (UAA) between 20 and 49 hectares compared to having a UAA of more than 200 hectares; a farm located in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Brittany, and Hauts-de-France versus having a farm located in the Grand Est region. 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 findings.