WASHINGTON—The American Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Leadership Committee revealed its findings from a new national survey during the recent International Year of the Woman Farmer ACE Summit in Washington.
A record number of Virginia women attended the summit, showcasing the growth and importance of women in agriculture.
“Having so many Virginia women in agriculture in attendance guaranteed that members of Congress and fellow ACE Summit attendees heard perspectives from nearly every sector or commodity group in agriculture,” said Olivia Gyapong, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation national affairs specialist.
The study, with support from JBS and CoBank, was conducted through online surveys and focus groups to develop a comprehensive look at women in agriculture in the United States.
Farm women often balance agricultural responsibilities with careers and family life. According to the survey, 60% of women hold jobs off the farm. Despite juggling these roles, nine out of 10 still report feeling confident speaking about agriculture in public and in professional settings.
The data also highlights the continued importance of family farming, with 61% of respondents identifying their operations as family farms. The most common commodities these women are involved with include beef cattle, corn and row crops.
Researchers identified five key areas where additional support is needed, including access to resources, time and caregiving, skill development, leadership involvement, financial security and overall well-being.
Interest in leadership is especially strong, with nearly 90% of women expressing a desire to take on leadership roles. One initiative supporting this interest is AgConnectHER, an AFBF program designed to inspire and equip women to succeed in leadership within the agricultural industry.
“More women are owners, managers, financial professionals and entrepreneurs for their farms now, no longer solely supporting farm operations behind the scenes, so leadership is a natural extension of the responsibilities they are already carrying,” Gyapong said.
Despite this interest, the study found that only 17% of women have participated in formal training programs. However, demand for skill building opportunities is clear. A total of 44% of respondents expressed interest in equipment or technical skills training, while nearly 56% are interested in business and financial management training.
“At the Virginia level, our women in agriculture have access to our training through avenues like our women’s leadership academy and Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Women in Agriculture program. I hope more women in ag or aspiring women in ag can take advantage of those opportunities,” Gyapong said.
-Virginia Farm Bureau
