Women have always been crucial contributors to the success of family farms, but their work has often gone unnoticed. In recent years, women’s presence in agriculture has become more evident, but they still face challenges in being accepted as farmers. Between February 2021 and March 2024, the research team for this publication series hosted interviews and listening sessions with women farmers across the U.S. Northeast, Midwest, and South. Interviews were primarily held with farmers producing commodity row crops (e.g., corn, wheat, soybeans, cotton, tobacco, forage, rice, and peanuts) to learn more about their daily experiences as women in agriculture. This three-part series includes participants’ reflections on what it means to be a farmer, how the work of caring for others impacts their role and involvement on the farm, and how they are navigating land access and succession planning.

Additionally, the series offers recommendations for agricultural advisors and outreach practitioners to better support women farmers, both at the local and organizational levels. The research team for this series includes Maria Teresa Tancredi, a 4th year Ph.D. student at the University of Georgia and AFT Research Fellow, her advisor, Dr. Jennifer Jo Thompson, and Dr. Gabrielle Roesch-McNally, AFT’s Women for the Land Director.

This research is part of a regional collaborative project supported by the USDA-NIFA, Award No. 2019-68012-29818, “Precision Sustainable Ag Coordinated Agricultural Project” (PSA-CAP): “A Cover Crop Network for Enhancing the Sustainability of US Cropping Systems.” Project Web site: precisionsustainableag.org and Award No. 2018-68011-28372, “Cover crops: The Cornerstone of Water Management in The Face of Increasing Demand and A Changing Climate”.