In an industry traditionally dominated by men, a recent trend is showing that more women are choosing to own and manage their own farms. At the 7th Annual Women Managing the Farm Conference in Kansas, more than 300 women were given the opportunity to obtain the tools they need to remain sustainable.
Over the course of the two-day conference, attendees listened to presentations concerning risk management, financial tips, estate and tax planning, farm safety, soil and crop rotation, water rights, long-term care insurance and how to get organized.
The Kansas Farm Service Agency provided financial support and leadership on the Women Managing the Farm Conference planning committee. State Executive Director Adrian J. Polansky and 22 FSA employees discussed issues including county committee elections, farm loans and other FSA programs and services available to women farmers and ranchers.
“Farm women who are helping to grow the nation’s food supply are being recognized more and more for their contribution to agriculture,” said Polansky.
According to the 2007 Census of Agriculture, the number of women who were the principal operators of a farm or ranch increased by almost 30%, to 306,209 operators. A principal operator is termed as the person in charge of the day-to-day decisions for the farm or ranch. Women are now the principal operators of 14 percent of the nation’s 2.2 million farms. In Kansas, women are the principal operators of 7,943 farms.
Kansas State University’s College of Agriculture illustrates the growing interest and participation of women in agriculture. Forty eight percent of the students enrolled in the College of Agriculture are women.
—by Trish Halstead, communications coordinator, Kansas Farm Service Agency
