Opportunities for women in the ag industry are expanding, and more women than ever are working in agriculture. This week, Stine celebrates women in agriculture as Women’s History Month and National Agriculture Week intersect.
Women take the lead
Agriculture is rich in tradition. Family farms have been a cornerstone of the Midwest where generations have cared for the same piece of land, contributed to a community and produced food, fuel and fiber.
“I grew up in a small ag community. Farmers, ranchers, agronomists — they’re not only hard working, they’re also selfless and truly want their neighbors and community to succeed. I’m proud to be a part of the ag community and support farmers so that they can help feed the world,” says Amanda Oberg, Stine regional sales agronomist.
While tradition still embodies how many family farms operate today, agricultural technologies and social landscapes continue to shift, prompting changes in farming. Women are stepping up to lead their family farms into the future of agriculture. In fact, more than 969,000 women farm in the United States, and they represent 31 percent of all farmers in the country. Women farmers operate more than 301 million acres of farmland, with an economic impact of about $12.9 billion, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.
“Stine is proud to serve our farmers and entrepreneurs, whether they are family businesses like ours that have existed for decades or are just getting started,” notes Stine Regional Sales Agronomist Bethany Oland.
And while women in past decades may have kept the family farm running behind the scenes, they never sat on the sidelines. More women are taking center stage to solve food insecurity in their community through agricultural means. Women entrepreneurs are heading up community-supported agriculture initiatives and starting small-scale growing businesses. Actually, women farmers, ranchers and agricultural managers earned more than their male counterparts in 2017, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Industry changes
As the agriculture industry continues to change, more opportunities are created to work in the industry outside of traditional the grower and producer roles. Scientists, researchers, marketing professionals, salespersons, engineers, lawyers, nutrition specialists, educators and more make up the agriculture workforce.
More women than ever are working in those sectors as employees, managers, entrepreneurs, problem-solvers and innovators, according to the Food and Agriculture Association of the United Nations. At Stine, for example, we have women agronomists who serve as independent sales reps or regional sales agronomists, as well as those who are in sales support or research roles.
Additionally, advancements in technology, equipment and research require a set of innovative, diverse thinkers to solve unique industry issues in the future. Women are offering a new perspective in small businesses and corporate offices across the country.
“We would like to thank all women who are paving the way for the agriculture industry,” notes Stine President Myron Stine. “Today and always, we support their efforts in agriculture and truly value their leadership and expertise in the workplace.”