Number of Farms Run by Women Nearly Triples
Over the past 15 years, the fraction of U.S. farms run by women has nearly tripled to about 15 percent. And nearly one-third of farms in this country are run by couples working together.
Increasingly, these farm women are banding together through regional groups where they trade tips and seek social and emotional support.
The gatherings also serve as a space where women can learn from each other, says Reagan Bluel, a dairy specialist for the University of Missouri Extension who runs the group for women dairy farmers in southern Missouri.
Women can exchange ideas with their peers and “see what is successful on those farms,” says Bluel.
The group offers more formal educational opportunities, as well. In the next few months, Bluel is organizing sessions about everything from calf-raising to stress management.
The groups are a nice alternative to the big farm shows and meetings, where women who attend can really stand out, says Rebecca Connelly, who started a group for women in dairy in Pennsylvania.
“The role of women on farms has always been there,” she says. “It's just now women are looking for more information off the farm.”
Connelly and her colleagues are organizing a national conference for women dairy workers this year so they can come together to learn from experts and each other. Source: Harvest Public Media S