Years ago women often got overlooked when it came to working on the farm. But today they?re running their own farms to even heading state ag departments. From field to fork women are helping pave the way for a brighter future in agriculture.
According the USDA, there are 32,167 women farmers in Iowa. This means 25% of farmers are women. USDA Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden says it?s great to see women involved in agriculture on so many different levels.
?They?re often seen as a farm wife and some bristle at that and say hey I am out here doing the marketing, buying the crop insurance, driving a tractor when need to and being supportive in every way possible. Farms and ranches are businesses and many are small which requires everyone to be involved and certainly women are a big part of that,? Harden said.
Last November, Harden helped start the Women in Ag mentoring network. This network gives women in agriculture an opportunity to meet other women and learn about how they may be doing the same things.
?Women have been involved in Agriculture since the beginning and they have always had a role. We are just now really starting to appreciate and value their contributions. In many ways women are used to helping each other and sharing advice and this is a way for women to do that even if you do not have someone in your own community or neighborhood,? Harden said.
Harden adds sacrifices women make to help their family are just as critical as anyone else on the farm. For more information about the women in ag mentoring network email womenaglead@usda.gov.
