WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD NEWS) — Women are playing an increasingly significant role in American agriculture, with women now farming or co-farming 43 percent of U.S. farmland.
As the country celebrates the International Year of the Woman Farmer, the American Farmland Trust is highlighting its Women for the Land program, which has spent the past decade connecting women in agriculture with resources, education and one another.
Stephanie Castle with the American Farmland Trust joined us on Wednesday’s Market Day Report to discuss the program and its mission to recognize that women are critical to the future of American agriculture.
In her conversation with RFD News, Castle notes that although women are involved in nearly half of the nation’s working lands, they have not traditionally been the primary decision-makers on those properties.
Women for the Land aims to help change that by giving women the tools and connections they need to make informed decisions about their land.
Connecting Women with Agricultural Resources
Castle says women in agriculture can face challenges accessing both technical and financial assistance.
The program connects women with local farming communities and agricultural service providers, helping them access resources for land management, conservation, and financial planning.
Those connections can also help women develop stronger business plans and improve the long-term viability of their farming operations.
Castle says the program is especially valuable as more women enter agriculture. She notes that women make up 41% of new and beginning farmers, highlighting the growing role women are playing in the industry.
Women farmers and ranchers can connect with the Women for the Land program through the American Farmland Trust’s website, where they can sign up for a nationwide newsletter and learn about upcoming programs and events.
The program also features stories about women succeeding in agriculture, along with resources covering topics such as farm transitions, conservation and land management.
Castle says women often share a strong desire to improve their land and leave it in better condition for the next generation, making those resources particularly valuable.
LEARN MORE: www.farmland.org/women
