Production Blog

OMAHA (DTN) -- If you have some time Tuesday evening, you may want to spare less than 20 minutes to fill out a voluntary, anonymous survey that could have a long-term impact on understanding the experiences, needs and perceptions of women in agriculture today.

The National Women in Agriculture Survey welcomes perspectives from farmers, ranchers, agribusiness professionals, educators, advocates and others connected to agriculture, forestry, and the life sciences, and will serve as more than just getting feedback. "Your responses will help identify what's working, where there are gaps, and how agricultural communities and organizations can better support women across all roles, from farmers and ranchers to educators, advocates, and business owners," noted the survey's creators. The survey is open to individuals 18 or older and in the United States and Puerto Rico.

You can participate in the survey by going to: https://merceruniversity.co1.qualtrics.com/….

The survey is sponsored by American Farm Bureau Women's Leadership Committee and is funded by CoBank and JBS. The deadline is March 31, and the study's principal investigator, Dr. Stephanie Basey, encouraged people to still take the survey. "We've seen a good last day response," she told DTN Tuesday afternoon.

The survey is tailored to gain relevant, insightful information from the participants.

"Depending on your background, you may see different sets of questions. If you are a woman in agriculture, we will ask about your work, leadership interests, challenges, and the kinds of support you find helpful," stated the introduction to the survey. "If you are not a woman in agriculture, including men in agriculture, or individuals outside the industry, we will ask for your perspective on women's roles and leadership in agriculture."

At the end of the survey, the study asks the participant, "Would you be interested in a follow-up focus group or interview to share more about your experiences a woman in agriculture?" The form then states that for those who select "yes," they are next directed to another form to provide contact information. "Your contact information will not be linked to your survey responses."

Basey told DTN, "While the survey itself is wrapping up, we're also in the early planning stages of follow-up interviews with women farmers later this month (April)."

RESULTS TO BE RELEASED IN JUNE

Results from the National Women in Agriculture Study will be released later this spring, at the International Year of the Woman Farmer ACE (Advocate Cultivate Empower) Summit being held in Washington, D.C., on June 1-3. "In celebration of the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF), the American Farm Bureau Federation's Women's Leadership program, together with a strong coalition of U.S. agrifood system stakeholders, is proud to host a landmark national gathering honoring the vital role women play in agriculture and the supply chain," the summit's organizers posted on its online site.

The event promised it "will empower, equip, and connect women farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness professionals. Through skill-building sessions, high-impact networking, and advocacy-focused programming, attendees will strengthen their voices and leadership within the agricultural community.?" (https://web.cvent.com/…)

SURVEY IS VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY

The survey provides a valuable opportunity for people to share their perspectives on a lot of different levels -- not just what their perceptions are about women in agriculture, from their role on farms to the boardroom tables -- but also what are their actual experiences, from when they were growing up to what is actually happening now in their communities. The survey makes people think of not only their own situation now on the farm, but what it could be in the future and what help they may need. It also provides hope, as it encourages people to think of what age should the next generation of women get involved in agriculture and what can help them.

STATISTICALLY, WOMEN SERVE IMPORTANT ROLE

The survey is timely because of the International Year of the Woman Farmer but also will be interesting to see how it compares to and builds upon results from the last Census of Agriculture.

When USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service released in February 2024 the results from the last Census of Agriculture done in 2022, it showed the important role women serve in agriculture. "The United States had 1.2 million female producers, accounting for 36% of the country's 3.4 million producers. Female producers were slightly younger, more likely to be a beginning farmer, and more likely to live on the farm they operate than male producers. More than half of all farms (58%) had a female producer. Farms with one or more female producers accounted for 41% of U.S. agriculture sales and 46% of U.S. farmland."

Women also contribute a considerable amount to the ag sector's success. "Farms with one or more female producers sold $222 billion in agricultural products in 2022, with 50% ($111 billion) in crop sales and 50% ($111 billion) in sales of livestock and livestock products. These farms accounted for 41% of total U.S. agriculture sales." They are also actively involved in farm decisions. "Fifty-eight percent of all U.S. farms (1.1 million farms) had one or more female producers making decisions about the farm's operation, compared to 92% of farms with one or more male producers."

But the census also noted there was a decline in female producers.

"In 2022, the ag census counted 1.2 million female producers, a decrease of 0.2% from the last time the ag census was conducted in 2017. The number of farms with a female producer declined 3% from the previous census."

You might see more female producers where you live, according to USDA. For example, Texas had more female producers than any other state: In 2022, 39% of the producers were female, at 157,291 producers.

USDA stated, "States in the Northeast, Southwest, and West had larger shares of female producers. While Texas had more female producers than any other state, Arizona and Alaska ranked first in the share they represented of the state's total producers (48%). Other top states included New Hampshire (45%) and Oregon (44%) as well as Maine, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Nevada (all 43%)."

You can see more of the Census statistics and analysis at https://www.nass.usda.gov/….

Elaine Shein can be reached at elaine.shein@dtn.com

Follow her on social platform X @elaineshein

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