Throughout history women have played active roles in the business of farming – whether as a partner in a family farm business, as a land owner, or as the principal operator of a farm. According to the USDA 2007 Census of Agriculture Report, 985,192 women reported being an operator of a farm or ranch.  Of these, 306,209 women reported being the principal operator – collectively farming over 64 million acres. The business of agriculture brings with it many uncertainties and, accordingly, requires good risk management skills to successfully operate the agribusiness.   Prone to many of the same risks that their male counterparts or business partners encounter, women often face some unique additional challenges including factors such as managing family demands, community involvement, off-farm employment, or simply working in a traditionally male-dominated industry.   These challenges also create new educational and networking opportunities for women involved in agriculture.  Over 20 years ago, the University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension recognized a need to reach out to this group by offering agricultural educational programs geared specifically toward women.  That program was shared with other states, and as a result many successful “women in ag” programs are in place today throughout the United States and its territories.

Public and private sector educators, crop insurance agents, lenders, and other agricultural professionals who are engaged in outreach education gathered this past March in Baltimore at the 2010 National Women in Agriculture Educators Conference.  The educators met to share ongoing and emerging successful risk management education efforts directed toward women who are involved in production agriculture. The conference participants had the opportunity to learn about educational efforts which assist women producers and their families in effectively managing financial, production, marketing, legal and human resource risks associated with their agribusinesses.

The conference agenda included more than 50 concurrent educational sessions, which were presented throughout the two-day event.  The concurrent sessions showcased some of the successful “women in ag” programs offered throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.   The topics focused on all aspects of agricultural risk management and included innovative programs that help women become more informed and more confident in agricultural marketing, business planning, record-keeping, entrepreneurship, employee relations, and estate planning.   In addition to sharing innovative programs, the presenters also shared the impacts or results that these programs had on women, their families, and their agribusiness. A complete list of the sessions may be viewed online.

The Conference also featured two “women in ag” keynote speakers – Judith C. Olson and Virginia L. Morton.   Judith Olson, Washington State Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency and a fourth generation farmer, highlighted many changes and advances that have occurred in the agricultural industry over the years, particularly as they relate to women.  Her address was entitled “No Line at the Restroom – How Women Are Uniquely Qualified to be Successful in Agriculture.”  Virginia Morton, a managing partner of her family’s farm – Tallman Family Farms in Tower City, Pennsylvania – captivated the audience with her insight and perspective about the significance of a sound agricultural risk management plan.  Her presentation, entitled “Transitioning a Family Farm to a Family Business,” focused on utilizing risk management every day to ensure that farming continues to be a profitable family business, and that agriculture continues to be a viable industry for many generations to come.

The 2010 National Women in Agriculture Educators Conference, sponsored by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Extension Risk Management Education (RME) Program, is held bi-annually.  In the alternate years, the Conference focus is on the broad theme of agricultural risk management education, and it attracts many of the same types of educators.  The conferences are held in a different location and region of the country each year.  For more information on the Extension Risk Management Education Program, please visit http://extensionrme.org/.