The American Farm Bureau Federation’s Women’s Leadership Committee, with support from JBS and CoBank, is unveiling the results of a new national study intended to guide programming dedicated to women in agriculture for the next five years.
Conducted via online survey and focus groups, the study provides a comprehensive look at women in agriculture in the United States. It also identifies the essential roles women currently play in building a sustainable future for agriculture as well as opportunities for growth, improvement and additional support.
“Agriculture around the world has flourished with the full support of women — oftentimes behind the scenes — but increasingly in leadership roles,” said AFBF Women’s Leadership Chair Isabella Chism. “As we celebrate the International Year of the Woman Farmer along with the 250th anniversary of the United States, this is the perfect time to make sure everyone has a seat at the table in agriculture. This study allows us to take a closer look at the role women play in raising crops and tending livestock but also balancing off-farm jobs, caring for children, volunteering in their community, and so much more. This study provides a comprehensive look at the many hats worn by women in agriculture as well as opportunities to better support them.”
A key finding from the study is that women in agriculture have strong confidence in their ability to balance farm work and family responsibilities. Most respondents also have a high level of confidence in their ability to represent agriculture in public or professional settings. In fact, 9 out of 10 women report feeling confident speaking at community meetings about agriculture, and an impressive number — nearly 90% — of women surveyed are interested in taking on leadership roles now or in the future.
Conversely, the study also identifies five key areas where the agriculture sector could increase support: time and caregiving; skill development; leadership involvement; financial future; and overall wellbeing.
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