Women in Agriculture

Farming and ranching are ways of life, in addition to business. In the Small Farm Program's work with underserved members of the agricultural community, topics pertinent to women farmers and ranchers have also been a focus.

Below are some resources from the Small Farm Program, as well as resources from other university programs, government agencies, and community organizations.

• Stress Management for Women Farmers & Ranchers (2008)
  The focus of this 6-page article is the common set of stressors experienced by farmers and ranchers, with an emphasis on women and stress management. The article is a product of the Women in Agriculture project.
  (322 KB)

• Outstanding in their Fields: California's Women Farmers
  Published in 2005, this book profiles 17 women, a cross-section of California's artisanal farmers. Their stories reflect a diversity of interests and farming pursuits.
  How to order...

 

Statistics: Women in Ag

Data on women farmers in the United States have been compiled by the Census of Agriculture since 1997.

Comparisons nationwide over time

• Women Principal Operators - Selected Farm Characteristics 2002 and 1997 (Table 48)


• Women Operators - Selected Operator Characteristics: 2002 and 1997 (Table 53)

Statistics separated by state

• Women Principal Operators - Selected Farm Characteristics 2002 (Table 47)


• Women Operators: 2002 (Table 48)


• Women Principal Operators - Tenure: 2002 (Table 49)

 

University-based groups

• UC Davis Women's Resources and Research Center


• Pennsylvania Women's Ag Network, Penn State


• Association of Women in Agriculture, University of Wisconsin


• Nebraska Women in Agriculture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln


• Women on U.S. Farms Research Initiative, Pennsylvania State University


• Women's Agricultural Network, University of Vermont
  

 

Community organizations and publications

• California Women for Agriculture


• Oregon Women for Agriculture


• Herstory: Women in Organic Agriculture, CCOF Newsletter: Vol XIX Number 2


• Women in Sustainable Agriculture, ATTRA Newsletter, Mar-April 2006, Vol 14 No 2.


• Rural Women's Network
  
• Part of the Rural Development Leadership Network

 

USDA & government sites

• USDA Women in Agriculture


• U.S. Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988


• Office of Women's Business Ownership, U.S. Small Business Administration


• National Women's Business Council