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SMALL FARM digest
VOLUME 11 | Spring 2008
Women in Agriculture
Maria Moreira and Hmong farmers at a newly
established farmers market in MA.
Photo : Maria Moreira
Women and Farming, Ranching & Working Lands:
Strengthening Their Roles and
Preparing for the Future
Janie Hipp, USDA/CSREES
National Program Leader, Risk Management Education and
Farm Financial Management programs
Women are increasing in number as principal areas, and marketing are safe from food
operators or in partnering roles in farming, borne illness. No one getting food from
ranching, and working lands around the fork-to-table wants illnesses to occur;
United States. Many would say they have, in taking precautions and preventative
many capacities, always been involved in the measures is critical to consumer confidence,
success of their operations, but their regardless of whether you are marketing in
presence is becoming more recognized and a local farmers market or a larger
education, training, and outreach more supermarket venue.
tailored to their needs.
Financial security for the farm or ranch is
There are many critical issues facing also critical, but we can’t ignore that our
agriculture and working lands today, operation’s financial health is inextricably
including water, energy, food safety, and intertwined with our family’s financial
financial security. The availability of water health. Ensuring we buttress both the
for operations, regardless of where these business and the family from financial crisis
might be, is of high importance. Not only is is an important issue for women and men
water availability critical, but it is also alike.
important to understand and prepare for
Preparing for the time we are no longer
scarcity situations and conflicts between
here, ensuring we leave our affairs in order,
agriculture and non-agriculture operations
and that the lands we steward and the
(such as urban or other community
businesses we grow will pass to the next
business.) Maintaining high levels of water
generation is not only our responsibility, but
quality is a parallel issue to water availability
should be our joy.
and access.
All these issues and concerns are bound up
Energy issues, from both consumption and
in our everyday planning, management,
availability standpoints, are likewise
and decision making for both our farming,
important. Energy is necessary for food
ranching, and working lands, and for our
production and transportation to market.
families and communities. Planning for
The role of agriculture in producing food for
risk, facing risk, and exploring tools and
fuel has many sides that must be carefully
methods to improve our education in these
explored. Food safety is critical for all those
critical areas is part of a life-long education
involved in food production, ensuring that
journey.
both the production site, food processing
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All farmers, ranchers and landowners (and in numbers all around the country, regardless
their families) need a solid business plan and of whether they are involved in organic fruit
they must visit it frequently to see if it needs or vegetable, row crop, direct market,
to be updated or adjusted. Women farmers, agritourism, equine, livestock, or any other in
ranchers, and owners of working lands the wide range of agriculture-related possi-
(forestlands, grazing or rangelands, lands bilities. There are also growing numbers of
held for conservation only or as open land) young women seeking degrees in agriculture-
should know they are not alone and, although related fields in our land-grant colleges and
they might feel isolated at times, they need universities.
to find others with whom they can communi-
It is absolutely essential that women come
cate and gain support from. They must
together regularly to share experiences,
surround themselves with a strong support
successes, and failures and to support one
system of advisors—production advisors,
another, regardless of what “track” they are
pricing and marketing financial advisors, tax
on. Training and education are important to
advisors, and legal advisors. All these types
improve the ability of our businesses and our
of resources are critical and if women can find
families to become and remain successful
trusted folks to be with through the good
over the long term. My hope is that we can
times and the bad, they will have a stronger
be voices of positiveness and community
likelihood of survival and accomplishing their
within agriculture, regardless of where we are
goals.
or what we do day-to-day, or where we might
Take a look at some statistics in this digest be. We all hope you enjoy this edition of the
edition and you’ll see that women farmers Small Farms Digest.
and ranchers are strengthening and growing
Queijo Açoreano:
how Portuguese Cheese Saved the Farm
Maria C. Moreira, Dairy Farmer
Maria Moreira was born in the Azores, 760
miles off the coast of Portugal, on the tiny is-
land of Santa Maria. Only 37 miles long and 10
miles wide, Santa Maria fostered a lifestyle
that was as rich in its work ethic and family
values as it was limited in food choices and
amenities, especially in the 1960’s. It was, in
fact, those values and the desire for broader
opportunities that brought Maria’s family to
the United States in 1966, when she was 12.
Photo: Maria Moriera
Continued on page 4
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The family came under the Family Repatriation to its own roots for an answer. That answer
Act to join her grandmother, Maria Morua, a turned out to be Queijo Açoreano.
Massachusetts resident from the Azores.
“Queijo Açoreano is the Portuguese cheese I
It was in Massachusetts that Maria met ate as a child,” she says. “We realized that the
another Santa Maria native, Manuel “Manny” only way to keep the farm was to add value to
Moreira. The couple married in 1972, and in the milk we produced. There was no other
1976 they bought a house with 5 acres in way. We couldn’t sit there and hope that milk
Chelmsford, MA—their first farm and a dream prices would rise. So we made cheese.”
come true. The only trouble, recalls Maria, is Manny’s Dairy Farm Queijo Açoreano, to be
that the community did not share that dream. exact. They tested their new product first
among friends, and then in the area’s
As the population blossomed, some former
burgeoning Portuguese community. It proved
farm towns became far more interested in
to be a hit—with help from the Massachusetts
growing house lots than crops. “The
Department of Agricultural Resources, which
community no longer considered itself to be a
assisted with the arduous process of making
farming community,” says Maria. “It just was
the operation compliant with all of the health
not supportive of agriculture. My husband
and safety regulations.
and I had to take outside jobs in different
places. It wasn’t until nearly 5 years later, in Hard work, big decisions, and family unity
1980, that we were able to buy our present were nothing new to Maria and Manny. It was
farm acreage in Lancaster.” their heritage. What happened next,
however, was completely new, and came from
In 1982, the couple bought 35 cows and
the other side of the world. While they were
began trying to make a living in dairy farming.
putting their own heritage to work, another
“We both dreamed how wonderful it was going
immigrant group was struggling nearby.
to be, working together just as our families
Hmong refugees from the mountains of Laos,
had,” she recalls. “Working as a family was
many of whom had fought in Southeast Asia
very familiar to us, and we longed to raise our
on behalf of the United States, desperately
four children as we had been raised back in
wanted land to grow traditional vegetables.
Santa Maria.”
It all started when an elderly Hmong lady
Again, things didn’t work out exactly as
asked if she could have a piece of land on the
planned. By the mid 1980s, the milk check
dairy farm. The Morerias were impressed by
still could not cover the farm and family
her dedication and knowledge of growing
expenses, no matter how many hours they
vegetables. The following season, when she
worked or how hard they tried to save. “We
asked for more land for her extended family,
thought, we talked, we worried. We just
they thought she should move to the crop
wanted to keep the farm, and keep us all
field. Over time, more families moved into
together,” she says. Again the family looked
the area where Hmong farmers grew produce.
Continued on page 5
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For over 20 years Hmong farmers, and more
recently African farmers, have been offered
access to land and infrastructure to produce
crops popular in their native countries. With
the diversity in Massachusetts, these farmers
have found a ready market for their crops. At
present, 26 acres are being cultivated by
immigrant farmers from different countries,
who together sold their crops at 23 farmers
markets during the 2007 season.
The Flats Mentor Farm (FMF) is on a 70-acre
river bottom piece of land in Lancaster, MA.
FMF assists and supports small farmers of
diverse ethnic backgrounds with the land,
farming infra-structure, and marketing
assistance needed to promote and sustain
successful farming enterprises. FMF promotes
economically viable agricultural production Photo: Maria Moreira
that protects the environment through
sustainable farming methods. This program
leader Maria Moreira, the farmers evolved
offers resources, hands-on training, and
from growing just enough for their families to
technical assistance on soil fertility, irrigation,
selling their produce at farmers’ markets in
pest and weed management, and marketing.
and around Boston. In 2007, FMF immigrant
FMF also provides opportunities for beginning
farmers produced ethnic crops in 26 acres of
farmers to increase economic returns, and
land, sold at 23 farmers markets, and
quality of life.
grossed just over $20,000 on their newly
Immigrant farmers have been farming at this piloted wholesaling effort.
location since 1985. In the late 1990s and
The wholesale pilot was the result of an effort
early 2000s they received support from Tufts
by Maria to make water available for the
University. In more recent years, FMF has
farmers to irrigate their crops. In 2004, a new
received support from University of Massa-
irrigation system was installed at the 70-acre
chusetts Extension , Heifer International,
piece of land with the assistance of a USDA
USDA–CSREES, and the Massachusetts
cost share program and the Massachusetts
Society for Promoting Agriculture.
Department of Agricultural Resources. This
With the past and present support and assis- irrigation system has significantly increased
tance in production and marketing practices the productivity of participating growers. In
from the organizations above, in addition to 2005, the increased yield was so much
the continued mentoring by the FMF project greater than previous years that the farmers
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needed to find more markets. Maria Moreira unavailable to, ethnic communities. Together,
implemented an innovative wholesale Frank and Maria have spearheaded an
marketing initiative to sell the excess extension program to study and to market
produce. vegetables to growing Central American,
Caribbean, Asian, and Brazilian communities.
The Flats Mentor Farm was officially
established to coordinate these efforts. All of Maria and Manny’s children have left
the farm, along with the milking cows, but
“We love dairy farming. The Hmong loved
the farm and the farming continue, thanks to
vegetable production; but the passion was
the heritage of hard work, adaptation, and
the same—there was an immediate
community that the couple brought from the
connection because of the shared love of
Azores. Manny is operating an ethnic custom
farming,” she says. This relationship began
slaughter facility at the farm and Maria is
with one, when Maria and Manny leased land
doing what she loves best—working with
to the Hmong farmers. When Maria and
UMass Extension to set up agricultural
Manny’s youngest child left for college, Maria
marketing systems for others farmers with a
began assisting the group in marketing its
similar passion. She jokes that farming is a
vegetables to Southeast Asian immigrant
“disease.” “When you have the passion, you
communities, to ethnic restaurants, and to
need to make it work for you,” she says. “I
upscale suburban farmers markets.
want to help other farmers, especially new
That was when she came to the attention of farmers facing many of the challenges we
Frank Mangan, of UMass Extension, whose faced, learn how to make agricultural
research focused on the local cultivation of marketing systems work for them.”
vegetables popular with, but often
Photo: Maria Moreira
6
The Roles, Successes and Challenges of
Arkansas Women in Agriculture
Jennie Popp, Associate Professor,
University of Arkansas
The roles women hold in Arkansas agriculture in survey research that examined their roles,
are as diverse as the women themselves. The challenges, and successes. This article
number of women principal operators grew highlights some of what we learned.
about 6 percent in Arkansas between 1997 and
Who They Are and How They Got There
2002. Data show that 25 percent of all
Of the 344 respondents, 54 were principle farm
Arkansas women farmers are principal farm
operators, 156 were agribusiness owners, and
operators and hold that role on 10 percent of
134 were farm/business employees. Most
farms in the state (USDA–National Agricultural
principle operators were involved in livestock
Statistics Service, 2004a, 2004b). In addition
production, but some also listed rice, soybean,
to these farm women, there are other women
cotton, forest, and vegetable production.
who are also important to the agricultural
Agribusiness owners included farm input
industry. These are women who hold prominent
supply, medical services, marketing services,
positions in firms that support agriculture, such
and credit services. Employees were involved
as agricultural lending institutions, farm input
in all types of businesses listed as well as other
suppliers, veterinary/animal clinics, and
farm organizations.
agricultural processors.
Three factors explain why women’s importance
To respond to the increase of women involved
in agriculture in Arkansas is growing. First,
in agriculture, researchers need to understand
more women in the state are inheriting these
the challenges women face and the goals they
operations due to death, divorce, and illness.
hold so as to be successful in their business
Second, women are making voluntary career
endeavors. However, different people measure
changes into agriculture, beginning with small-
success differently. It could mean maximizing
scale production and increasing land base and
income or profit for some (Hoy et al., 1984), it
production each year. Third, more women are
may be non-financial, such as assisting the
choosing college programs that prepare them
community or being able to use a particular
for important positions in agricultural industries.
skill (Buttner and Moore, 1997; Mayasami et
At the University of Arkansas for example, the
al., 1999), or it could be some combination of
number of female agriculture graduates grew
both. Three conferences (2005, 2006, and
by 50 percent between 1997 and 2005
2007) for Arkansas women in agriculture were
(University of Arkansas Institutional Research,
held with the goal of enriching lives and
2006). Women are feeling confident in their
empowering women in Arkansas in all aspects
growing roles. When asked whether they would
of agriculture (production, processing,
keep their business in the event of the loss of
marketing, and retailing). Of the 754 female
their life or business partner, 77 percent of
conference attendees, 344 agreed to participate
operators/owners said definitely yes.
Continued on page 8
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How Arkansas Women in Agriculture differed by occupation. Operators/owners were
Measure Success When measuring their more likely to list a factor as a challenge.
success, Arkansas women in agriculture put Operators/owners listed finding a good business
more focus on individual growth and lawyer, qualifying for government programs,
community then on traditional profit measures. and keeping good financial records next,
When asked about 13 ways to measure whereas employees listed keeping financial
success, these women chose ability to apply records, following environmental regulations,
talents and skills directly to their work, being and handling cash flow next. Gaining access to
excited about their work, trying new ways of credit was generally not a problem. From 2005
doing things, being involved in their to 2007, the percentage of operators/owners
communities, and improving their family’s who cited challenges fell across 8 of 13 possible
standard of living as the most important challenges. For employees, challenges stayed
measures of success. However when broken roughly the same, or increased.
into groups, the rankings differed slightly
Summing Up This research suggests that
between principle operators/business owners
Arkansas women are involved in every aspect
and employees. Community involvement was
of agriculture and their influence is growing.
ranked higher by operators/owners (ranked #
While some common measures of success and
3) than others (ranked #77), while standard of
challenges were identified, the results suggest
living was more important to others (ranked
that different types of agricultural women hold
#4) than operators/owners (ranked #8).
different attitudes about business and face
Challenges Faced by Arkansas Women in different challenges. Results across years
Agriculture The women were also asked about suggest that successes and problems may
13 challenges that they might face in their change over time. Based on the results of this
work. Interestingly, two factors—being research, educational efforts are underway
respected as a female business person and across the state to assist Arkansas women in
keeping/working with good employees—were agriculture. The non-profit Arkansas Women in
the largest challenges faced by all women, Agriculture works closely with university
regardless of their role in agriculture. However, research/extension and other groups interested
these factors were listed by only 39 percent of in addressing the ever-changing roles and
all respondents. Other important challenges challenges of Arkansas women in agriculture.
Literature Cited
Buttner, E. and D.Moore. 1997.
Women's organizational exodus to entrepreneurship: Self-reported motivations and correlates with success.
Journal of Small Business Management. 35: 34-46.
Hoy, F., J. Carland and J.Carland. 1984. Differentiating entrepreneurs from small business owners: A
conceptualization. Academy of Management Review. 9: 354-359.
Mayasami, R., G. Cooper and P. Valeria. 1999. Female business owners in Singapore and elsewhere: a review of
studies. Journal of Small Business Management. 37: 96-105.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service. 2004a. 2002 Census of Agriculture. United
States Table 53. Women operators—selected operator characteristics: 2002 and 1997. Accessed May 20, 2004.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service. 2004b. 2002 Census of Agriculture. Arkansas
Table 53. Women operators— selected operator characteristics: 2002 and 1997. Accessed May 20, 2004.
University of Arkansas Institutional Research. 2006. Summary of degrees awarded in Bumpers College 1997-2005.
Accessed July 20, 2005.
8Women in Blue Jeans:
Celebrating Women of Rural America
Diana Goldammer , Farm Partner and
President of Women in Blue Jeans, Inc.
Defining a “farm wife” is something like on ‘the home place’ 9 years after my father-
defining a “family farm.” There are about as in-law died.
many ways to be a farm wife as there are
My husband does the daily chores alone while
women involved in agriculture.
I come home to the kids and house. We buy
Women today can’t look to their mothers or our bread and vegetables at Wal-Mart, I order
grandmothers to find out how to make it all birthday cakes from the bakery, and my
work. I’m only one example of today’s sewing machine is what’s under the TV in our
woman in agriculture, but I’m about as bedroom.
different from my grandmother as can be.
So who can I turn to when I’m at the end of
Once she got married, she quit her off-farm my rope and I want to hide in my bedroom
job (teaching) and raised her children, and have a good cry? Women from my
cooked, cleaned, and helped outside with the mother’s generation have never been in my
farm and her garden. A trip to town was to shoes, and my grandmother and her Ladies’
see friends, go to a show (how they referred Aid would never believe it if they saw it.
to going to a movie), or attend church. My
Women in my generation are not as alike as
grandfather was never beyond earshot and
women a century ago. Many farm wives
came in the house six times a day for meals,
today live on the family farms, in-laws having
right on schedule. Going from one field to
moved to town when they turned over the
another didn’t involve traveling on a road.
farms. Maybe they live across the road or in
This was the only way to farm in the early
another house on the same ‘place’ as their in-
20th century. It was a celebrated way of life,
laws. Some live in town and drive out to the
an unsurpassed way to raise a family.
farm. Some have full-time off-farm jobs,
My life, on the other hand, bears no others part-time, others have no off-farm
resemblance to hers. My husband and I both jobs. Some women have husbands who farm
have off-farm jobs, so we work cattle, plant, full-time, others men have off-farm jobs,
and harvest at night, on weekends, and on either full- or part-time. Some women do a
holidays. Until they went to school, our kids lot outside with their husbands, while others
attended daycare. Now in elementary school, have hired-hands or brothers-in-law to help
they are unfamiliar with what goes on out at run the family farm. Some women are the
the farm on a daily basis because we live in main operators and their husbands pitch-in
town, and my mother-in-law continues to live after they get home from their off-farm jobs.
Continued on page 10
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So what’s the norm? Is there a norm? And if
there’s no “normal,” how do we support each
other? How do we keep from playing the ‘my
life is worse than your life’ game when we
finally do find another woman who is in a
similar boat?
A small group of committed folks in Mitchell,
SD, produces a conference each year, called
Women in Blue Jeans. It’s geared for all
women in rural America, no matter what their
role or how involved in agriculture they are.
We believe that most of us in the Great Plains
are no more than two generations removed
from the farm. The Women in Blue Jeans
conference gives us a place and a time to
celebrate how we are the same, while allowing
us to explore our unique interests. Photo: Lori Goldammer
Our committee members are proud of the operation is unique in how they handle the
service we provide for the women who make evolution of production agriculture.
rural America thrive. We serve the women
While we gather, we laugh at our problems,
who work in the fields and those who work in
occasionally we cry together, we celebrate the
town. We serve those who have children at
chaos, and we recharge for another year of
home and those with empty nests. We serve
living with the realities of production
those who know their farm’s business inside
agriculture in the 21st century. Starry-eyed
and out, and those who are beginning to
brides and seasoned farm partners all find
learn. We serve those with experiences to
something at the Women in Blue Jeans
share, and those with everything yet to
conference.
experience.
Our hope is that communities across the
While at the conference, women share their
country and around the world will unite and
heartaches, support each other, offer
serve as we do. It is so rewarding to have
solutions, and learn about everything from
women tell us on the way out the door at the
agribusiness to health issues to leisure skills
end of our event that they’ll be back next year
to personal empowerment. The complexities
and they’ll be bringing a friend. We have
of farm programs and tax structures demand
women tell us that this is their holiday, their
that farmers are educated, and some women
vacation for the year. We are so humbled
have taken over the roll of grain and/or cattle
that they have trusted us with their time.
marketers and accountants while their
They have trusted us to give them what
husbands handle the production. Each
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10Continued from page 10
they need, to keep going for another year, in won’t save the world, but we’re pretty sure
good times and in not-so-good. We provide a we serve the women who will.
valuable service and they recognize that.
For more information, contact Diana Goldam-
And, in the end, we are all the same. We
mer at Diana@dianagoldammer.com, or call
want to have happy families, be good stew-
605-995-2160 (days), 605-996-8089
ards of resources, build our communities, and
(evenings). Learn more about Women in
have peace in our soul.
Blue Jeans at www.womeninbuejeans.org,
At the Women in Blue Jeans conference, we and about Diana at
know that 2 days of Diet Coke and brownies www.dianagoldammer.com
Preserving The Legacy: The Role of
African-American Women in Agriculture
Shirley Sherrod, Georgia Director
Federation of Southern Cooperatives/LAF
Over the past century, African-Americans sustainability for African-Americans in the
have experienced a steady decline in farm rural South. That valuable asset however is in
and rural land ownership—from a high of serious danger of being lost.
950,000 farms and over 15 million acres of
The reasons why African-American-owned
farmland in the early 20th century to less than
land is in jeopardy are many and varied,
30,000 farms and 2.5 million acres of
including documented discrimination in the
farmland today. When added to non-farm or
private and public sectors, as well as all areas
idle rural acreage, the rural acres owned by
of the market. Still, one often-overlooked
African-Americans dramatically increases to
factor is the rapid aging of African-American
nearly 8 million acres.
farmers who, like all farmers, are pre-
Although African-American-owned land dominantly male. The average age of the
represents only 1 percent of the total amount African-American farmer is nearly 60 years,
of privately owned rural land, according to with about 25 percent averaging between 65
the 1999 Agricultural Economic and and 74, according to the latest Census of
Landownership Report, the value of that land Agriculture.
is $14 billion. This represents one of the
Because African-American farmers and
greatest economic assets owned by African-
landowners generally do not have wills or
Americans and is the key to individual and
estate plans, over the next 2 decades African-
family wealth creation, as well as economic
American land will increasingly fall into the
Continued on page 12
11Continued from page 11
to
Photo: USDA
hands or control of their spouses. There are sustain this work; and connect with women’s
no current official policies or programs to groups committed to human rights, and
prepare for this coming trend (i.e., to prepare economic and social justice. In all of its
women to secure and sustainably develop work, culture, and spirituality are integral
those farms and lands). components.
That task has fallen to organizations like the The two organizations have developed several
Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land initiatives that prepare and empower African-
Assistance Fund and its partner, the Southern American women to take advantage of land-
Rural Black Women’s Initiative for Economic based economic development opportunities to
and Social Justice (SRBWI). The federation is create wealth, while maintaining the legacy of
a 40-year-old membership organization that landownership within the African-American
provides land-and farm-related assistance, community.
predominately to African-Americans. The
Two of the most promising initiatives are
federation partnered with SRBWI in 2002.
located in South Georgia. One is Southern
SRBWI’s mission is to nourish the internal
Alternatives Agricultural Cooperative, Inc., a
capacity of women to take responsibility for
women-owned cooperative of pecan growers
their own lives, personally and externally;
and plant workers who produce pecans and
engage women in advocacy and policy
pecan candy for domestic markets. The
initiatives that redirect local, state, and
owners of Southern Alternatives address
federal resources to help ensure women’s full
many problems associated with an unskilled
participation and access to economic and
labor force by hiring and teaching employees
social justice; develop an asset-based
to operate the plant (shipping, warehouse,
economic development strategy that invests
packing, etc.) and manage the business.
in women and communities for a long term;
(book-keeping, sales, marketing, etc).
build organizational capacity within the region
Continued on page 13
12Continued from page 12
Many of these employees will have the state-of-the-art commercial kitchen in the
opportunity to become business owners school building. This kitchen is the only
themselves by joining the cooperative. commercial kitchen available to the public
south of Atlanta. The kitchen is available to
The cooperative supports local Black farmers
the women at Southern Alternatives (to
by purchasing pecans from members who
produce various flavors of pecans and other
own or lease pecan groves. These members
pecan products), and to many others who
are then able to partake in the processing
produce products for sale to the public and
portion of the business, expanding their
for home consumption.
involvement in the pecan industry.
Projects such as these, supported by a
Another initiative is the commercial kitchen.
comprehensive land and farm retention
A group located in Baker County, GA, worked
program and public policy initiatives geared
to save an old school and with funding from
toward women, will greatly reduce the
USDA Rural Development, the Presbyterian
likelihood of African-Americans becoming
Self Development of People Fund, the
landless and non-participants in this country’s
Babcock Foundation, and SRBWI, developed a
production and marketing agriculture system.
Financial Security for Farm Families
Jane Schuchardt, National Program Leader, Youth Education; Financial Security
Rural & Community Development, CSREES–USDA
When it comes to money, families working Then there are more questions. As off-farm
land (farming, ranging, and timber employment becomes more commonplace,
operations) are no different from the general how do families gain the knowledge and skills
population. They want to achieve financial to manage investments connected with
security, which is the ability to meet future defined contribution retirement plans?
needs while keeping pace with day-to-day
When the farm business is more a lifestyle
obligations. Yet, most personal finance
than a job, which often is the case, how can
education for the general public is designed
farm land and other assets be transferred
for those whose sole source of income comes
from one generation to the next? And, what if
from workforce attachment, not self-
the next generation doesn’t want to farm?
employment.
The nationwide Cooperative Extension
Farm families face some unique challenges.
System, in conjunction with the USDA Office
Often the farm business and household
of the Secretary, has launched eXtension.
finances are comingled. Money demands can
One component, personal finance, includes
put the farm and family in conflict. Do we fix
learning lessons especially designed for farm
the breached drainage pipe in the farm pond
families.
or get braces for the teenagers?
Continued on page 14
13Continued from page 13
eXtension (pronounced ee-extension) takes seminars and workshops are available in most
the best information and educational localities. After filling out a profile, those
opportunities extension traditionally offers in registered will get notifications of new
a community-based setting and makes them information tailored to their educational
available online. In addition to learning needs. An additional resource, especially
lessons complete with streaming video, such helpful for professionals, is at
as Who Will Get Grandpa’s Farm?, there are http://search.extension.org. Through this
financial calculators such as Retirement site, powered by Google, 750 local and state
Estimator for Farm Families. The goal is to extension sites are keyword searchable.
help farm families make informed financial
Extension professionals, under the leadership
decisions, while taking into account both the
of the Financial Security for All Community of
well-being of the operation and household.
Practice (COP) will continue to build this site,
In addition to learning tools and financial depending on evaluation results and public
calculators, the personal finance segment of needs for information and education. For
the site includes nearly 1,000 frequently example, Investing for Your Future, a
asked questions. If learners do not find learning lesson on basic investing, is being
answers to their questions, they can “ask an adapted to reflect the needs of farm families
expert.” An extension educator will reply
Comments on these efforts to address
within 48 hours with general information,
financial security may be sent to the COP
including where to go for more details. (This
chair, Dr. Debra Pankow, North Dakota State
educational function does not include
University, at debra.pankow@ndsu.edu. The
personal advice or counseling, which is widely
COP core leadership team includes land-grant
available in the marketplace. Instead,
university faculty from Vermont, Maryland,
eXtension users gain the knowledge, skills,
Ohio, New Jersey, Idaho, and South Carolina,
and motivation to make informed financial
plus nearly 200 extension professionals from
decisions on their own, or to know what
across the nation. The team is advised by a
questions to ask of professionals in the
national program leader from USDA’s
financial service industry.)
Cooperative State Research, Education, and
Learners who register at the site will be Extension Service and the Washington State
connected to the local or state extension Extension director.
office nearest them where face-to-face
14American Indian Probate Reform
Marsha A. Goetting, Ph.d., CFP®, CFCS
Professor and Extension Economics Specialist
Montana State University
Native American readers who want to know ‘Indian’; how trust property is distributed to
more about the impact of the June 2006 heirs under different rules depending upon
American Indian Probate Reform Act (AIPRA) whether the undivided interests are 5 percent
on their lives should read a series of 14 fact or more or less than 5 percent; circumstances
sheets that highlight the probate sections of where a beneficiary can only receive a life
this federal law. Montana State University’s estate; and the rules for the division of
Marsha Goetting, extension family economics Individual Indian Money accounts to heirs.
specialist, and Kristin Ruppel, from the
View fact sheets or, if you would like to have
Department of Native American Studies,
the packet of 14 fact sheets mailed directly to
developed the fact sheets.
you, e-mail Marsha Goetting.
AIPRA created a uniform probate code for
A series of PowerPoint slides that accompany
reservations across the United States except
some of the fact sheets are also available for
for Alaska, the Five Civilized Tribes, and the
downloading. These would be great for tribal
Osage. The act applies to all individually
leaders who want to make presentations at a
owned trust lands unless a tribe has its own
reservation land summit.
Department of Interior-approved probate
code. A series of 12 newspaper articles about AIPRA
are also available for adapting locally and
Many issues are examined, such as the
printing in Tribal newspapers.
fractionation problem on reservations; the
typical ways individuals own reservation land; The Community Outreach and Assistance
the meaning of some of the numbers and Partnership program of the USDA’s Risk
terms on Individual Trust Interest reports; Management Agency funded and developed
the AIPRA definition of eligible heirs and the materials.
15Agriculture, Its Risks and Me
Willonese Tillman-Adams
Goat Farmer, White Springs, FL
Women are growing in numbers in the area of Agricultural Leadership Training Institute was
agriculture—from the farm in rural America, to the best thing to happen to me since I became
USDA headquarters in Washington, DC. These a farmer. Dr. Dawn Mellion-Patin, the
women perform in provide jobs vital to the institute’s director, provided an outstanding 2-
success of the agricultural arena. year program that enlightened, enriched, and
empowered!
I became an agricultural professional after
retirement from a career in education. It was The leadership program provided strategies to
really serendipity. I have come a long way solve many of the problems that were risks to
and learned a lot since my sister and I sat in an agricultural operation and it allowed me to
on a meeting for a friend on the farm at network with other small farmers and
Florida A&M University in 1999. agricultural professionals, from educators to
extension to USDA agency employees on all
The meeting was about developing new
levels. I am now in touch with my county
farming alternatives for the small farmer and
extension agent and have access to what is
resulted in training classes and workshops that
available through that agency, especially
were extremely helpful in teaching us the
grazing and land management concerns.
process of raising goats. However, it was not
until we participated in an agricultural Risk management concerns such as herd
leadership training program at the Small health, nutrition, and bio-security were either
Farmers Agricultural Leadership Training taught or reinforced at workshops and/or short
Institute at Southern University, in Baton courses, with hands-on experience sponsored
Rouge, LA, that I discovered there were risks by the various agencies and universities in the
in this occupation, and that I had little area. First attendance led to more and more
knowledge of them. I knew producers want to workshops, mini-courses, conferences, etc., in
protect their product by giving the best care places all over the southeast. You leave each
and having a secure environment. We knew activity with more knowledge.
that marketing was key to financial success.
The leadership course introduced me to estate
However, there were other challenges that I
planning, the farm bill and what it offers, what
had no inkling of.
USDA and its agencies offer to small farmers,
Probably the number one problem facing us minority and limited resource producers,
was record keeping. When tax time came, we marketing, and networking. Even though I am
had no system in place. Handling this still learning, and I hope to continue my
deficiency in records was quite a challenge. education as new information becomes
We were in this situation prior to all of the risk available, I am now helping others farmers to
management training and other training from get the type of training and information that
the leadership program. has improved our farm and reduced the risks
involved.
Being a part of the first Small Farmers
16Annie’s Project: an Educator’s Thoughts
Ruth Hambleton, Originator and
Curriculum Author, Annie’s Project
(Note: Annie’s Project is an intensive multi-week training experience encompassing business management,
marketing, and other business skills training. Ruth Hambleton is the creator of
Annie’s Project, which is now in over 20 states).
In every “Annie’s Project–Education for Farm Annie’s Project for ideas and inspiration from
Women,” I can count on two things. First, I both peers and presenters.
can count on an audience of women from a
Second, some women in the Baby Boomer
broad range of experience and, second, I can
generation approach retirement and find
count on finding women from both ends of
themselves farming after having lost their
the spectrum when we look at size of the
husbands of many years. Often these women
operation. Inevitably there are women who
find themselves in the position of having to
have farmed all their lives and are very
manage alone what previously two had
successful in what they do, and inevitably
managed. In the latest round of Annie’s
there are also women who are about to jump
Project in Illinois, widows increased from 5
into an adventure of landownership and fulfill
percent of students in all classes in 2006 to
one of life’s desires to connect with the land.
14 percent of students in all classes in 2007.
Ag census data suggests that one of the Their motivation to be in the class was to find
fastest-growing categories of landownership emotional support and examine some
and management is women taking on farm possible new alternatives for their operations.
and ranch operations of all sizes. I see this
Third, some women in the Baby Boomer
data play out in my Annie’s Project training
generation take the wealth they have
sessions in many ways.
accumulated over the years and invest in
First, as women in the Baby Boomer their lives’ dreams and passions. These
generation approach their retirement years, women join Annie’s Project for the business
several things come into play. First, some planning and financing part of the class. Of all
women who are in their middle years and the women I deal with in class, these are
were raised on farms inherit farm operations among the toughest and most determined to
from their parents. Many times these women make something happen with their lands. A
who left the farm when they were younger few of the ideas fall into the “pipe dream”
are reconnecting with the “family’s farm” in category, but most have real potential.
their middle years. These women often have
In one case, a woman sat quietly in the back
siblings with whom they share the
of class. She didn’t say much, but I could tell
inheritance, so farm operations are divided
she was searching for something. I share her
into smaller sizes. In many cases, these
story only to give you a sense of what it
women have a real passion to do something
means to be connected to a piece of land.
with their acres. Many find their way to
Continued on page 18
17Continued from page 18
This woman was a widow, but not by any tra- getting to know their customers. Some also
ditional means; her husband was murdered in use the Internet to broaden sales areas not
front of her. The trauma she and her children just in physical boundaries but also in finding
experienced was evident, but she was deter- folks with like-minded values to share in their
mined to do something to bring life back into farming experience: finding the customer who
her family. Her idea was to take her children spends money not only for sustenance, but
to a small farm outside of the city where her also for cause.
life was turned upside down. She examined
As for the size of farming operations run by
many ideas for her small patch of land, from
women in my classes, some of the farm op-
organic farming to agri-entertainment. You
erations are large, but the majority of opera-
could see her in class honing these ideas into
tions run solely by women are smaller in size
a plan that would rebuild her and her chil-
(under 40 acres) and below $50,000 in the
dren’s lives.
gross income category. Those rare women
Women who dream and plan to own a piece who are fulltime farmers are far outnumbered
of land have very different vision of how land by the women working their day jobs and re-
resources should be used. They are more in- turning home each evening to their passions.
clined to produce for specialty markets, per-
In an ever increasingly tough landscape, I
sonal fulfillment, and take on enterprises in-
can only admire how women have created the
volving more physical labor than capital in-
win-win situation for their own financial and
vestment in big machinery. The products they
emotional needs, caring as much for their
produce are more personalized and marketed
customers as they do for themselves.
in high-touch environments, such as farmers
markets, where their sales strategies involve
Native Women and Youth in Agriculture:
Reaching America’s First Farmers
Vicki Le Beaux, President and Co-Founder
Native Women and Youth in Agriculture
As “women in agriculture,” Annie’s Project, Indian Country generally refers to those lands
and other women-focused education and and areas, including reservation and non-
training efforts reach around the country, reservation lands that are inhabited,
parallel efforts are occurring in “Indian controlled, or owned by American Indians.
Country.” A non-profit organization, Native There are 562 tribes and 314 federally
Women and Youth in Agriculture (NWYIA), is recognized Indian reservations in America,
spearheading these efforts. Why is this making up over 52 million acres of land. In
necessary? contrast to the 8,987 full-time equivalent
Continued on page 19
18Continued from page 13
positions (FTE) at the county level and over
3,056 counties served by the extension
system, there are only 30 or so FTEs under
the Federally Recognized Indian Reservation
Program (FRTEP) and only about 30 Tribal
Colleges. The higher education colleges just
recently gained land-grant status (in 1994).
However the presence of Indian people in
agriculture pre-dates settlement of the United
States. The first Indian agriculture
2007 winners of the NWYIA Essay Contest
organization—the Intertribal Agriculture Photo: Vicki LeBeaux
Council, with which NWYIA is affiliated—was
organics, permaculture, ranching, grazing,
created by Congress in 1987 before the Tribal
food processing, farmers and direct markets,
land-grants were recognized.
and even export marketing of Indian grown,
NWYIA organized in early 2003, following a raised, harvested, and processed products.
grant from the Risk Management Education Indian products appear on the shelves of
(RME) program funded through the specialty grocery stores and supermarkets
Cooperative State Research, Education, and both in the United States and abroad.
Extension Service, to address the education,
Preparing native youth to carry on into the
training and outreach needs of native women
future is critical to all Indian people now. To
and youth. The NWYIA effort was one of
that end, NWYIA has always had an activity
RME’s first funded projects, following passage
that encourages youth to think about their
of the Agriculture Risk Protection Act.
historical links to the land, their ancestors,
Recognizing and preparing for risks associated
their families’ history in food and agriculture,
with agriculture (in all its forms) is an
and what the future might hold. This facet of
important need in Indian Country.
the organization carries the most impact on
Why focus on native women and youth? the future of Indian Country, as we are losing
Historically, native women were the primary our youth’s interest in agriculture and need to
agriculturalists in their tribes—what we now re-engage their commitment to carrying on
call farmers and ranchers. Their activities on the tradition of agriculture on our reservations
the land and with the family ranged from tilled and Tribal lands.
and harvested acreages in the Southeastern
We will continue to push forward with our
tribes, to ensuring that hunting, gathering,
partners to create opportunities for tribal
and food storage occurred in ways to support
governments and Indian people to reconnect
the families in other areas. They were very
with agriculture and food and seek new ways
much involved with animals and ensured the
to balance our responsibility to the Earth with
health and well-being of their families.
our responsibility to feed our families in
Native women are still very much involved in wholesome and nutritious ways, while still
all sorts of agricultural efforts, including preserving our traditions and cultures.
19Renewable Horses
Sandy Hamm, Owner & Manager
www.Sadyhammhorses.com
I rehabilitate recycled racehorses on 150 focus to a breeding operation. After doing the
acres nestled in the Ozark hill country of calculations, the break-even costs were as
Northwest Arkansas. Horses unwanted by follows; a horse bred, raised, and sold in the
most prospective equine buyers find their way second year had a break-even cost of $8,500,
to my small farm and become partners and a recycled racehorse in the second year would
champions to horse lovers who otherwise break-even at $5,300. My decision was clear.
could not afford to purchase, for example, a I chose to continue producing renewable
grandson of Seattle Slew. All are broken horses.
physically and mentally. While some take
The past 7 years I have marketed and sold
years to recover, I have never come across
value-added retrained racehorses. I used
one that could not be mended and placed into
demographics to set prices, choose my target
the perfect home.
market, utilize my farm location, and produce
What began as a passion has grown into a a niche product to meet the demands of my
thriving and profitable small farm. During local and regional market base. The value
college in the ’80s, I worked for a wealthy added to each racehorse increased selling
racehorse owner. His farm manager, who prices from $1,500 to $8,500 and up.
became and still is my mentor, taught me Focused training in specialty disciplines, such
how to retrain these majestic animals and as foxhunting, show ring jumping, cross
give them a second-chance career. That was country jumping, and trail riding in accord
23 years ago. The road to profitability was with each individual horse’s ability, increased
long—mostly because I was naïve, believing the salability of the rescued racehorses. I
farming was a lifestyle, not a business. have branded my horse product as a quality
safe riding mount which is sold honestly with
The first 15 years of farming was at break-
all past history disclosed, along with a
even. I understood how many horses I
reputation for matching horse and rider to
needed to sell per year to cover my costs of
create a true partnership. Several weeks of
feed and hay. I still work on that philosophy;
trial riding at my farm before purchasing is
I produce only a value-added product, which
required before any sale. This includes riding
markets for a much higher return. After
lessons to assist horse and rider in learning
completing my master of science degree in
each other’s needs. The charge for riding
agriculture economics in 2001, I was
lessons is $45/hour, another way I add
motivated to run a profitable farm. Entering
product value, along with the option to board
into the millennium from an era where most
the horse and continue taking riding lessons.
horse operations were breeding facilities, I
had to make a decision whether to stay on The change and growth of my farming
track with my recycled racehorses or change operation would not have occurred had I not
Continued on page 21
20Continued from page 20
taken educational classes. Obstacles I day, can be difficult. Grant funding could
struggled with include industry knowledge, increase conference attendance by making
funding resources, marketing abilities, and the decision to pay for farm help more
bookkeeping skills. I acquired an appealing. Farmers today can also benefit
agribusiness skill set while working towards from online business classes, which are
my degree in agriculture. After graduation, I offered by colleges and give women a chance
researched my product market and made the to learn at home after the animals have been
necessary changes to manage a sustainable fed and the kids put to bed.
farm in an area where urban sprawl
The economic impact of the horse industry is
continued to devour rural life. Regional
$112 billion each year (UA Equine Program).
conferences (e.g., Women in Agriculture),
The number of farms operated by women has
give women farmers across the nation the
more than doubled since 1978 (Economic
opportunity to learn agribusiness practices,
Research Service 2002 census). Today
discover new farming ideas, interface with
women operate over 65 percent of all horse
other women in agriculture, and a chance to
farms (ERS, 2006). Small rural farms
attend training seminars on funding
managed by women continue to increase and
opportunities. One drawback is most horse
so does the demand for training and
farms are run by women and finding the time
education.
or resources to leave the farm, even for 1
PHOTO: http://www.sandyhammhorses.com/
21Socio-economic Characteristics of
Women Farm Operators
Kristen Grifka, CSREES—USDA1
The Number of Women Farmers in the operator, generally recorded as the husband
United States has increased for decades, when a married couple operate a farm.
even though the total number of farms has
Age: According to Census data, the age
declined.
distribution of women farmers has changed.
The 2002 Census of Agriculture recorded In 2002, 24 percent were between 35 and 44
237,819 women as primary farm operators, years old; 32 percent were between 45 and
with an additional 584,564 women as farm 54; 24 percent were between 55 and 64, and
operators on farms where men were the 20 percent were over 65. Between 1978 and
primary operators. In 2002, therefore, 1997, the number under 55 grew from 38
women made up 11.2 percent of the total percent to 44 percent (note: these data refer
number of operators, up from 9.5 percent in to primary operators only).
1997. Earlier Census data also reflect this
However, the average age of women farmers
trend. The chart below (Farms by Gender)
has remained fairly steady at 58 over the last
shows that from 1978 to 1997 the number of
few decades.
farms with women as primary operators
increased by 58 percent . Race: With the exception of African-
Americans, minority women have entered
farming at very high rates. Farms operated by
Caucasian women increased the most in
numbers in the last 20 years, from around
99,000 in 1978 to just over 160,000 by 1997,
but both the shares and numbers of minority
operators increased, in some cases nearly
tripling in number.
African-American women farmers are the
exception. In 1978, they operated 3,371
farms but by 1997, the number had declined
to 1,710; decreasing from 3.2 percent to 1.0
percent of women’s farms
Ownership and Inheritance: The majority
of women farmers are new entrants (see
figure 6-5 below), and most women who farm
Earlier surveys probably undercounted the
(75 percent) own all the land they operate.
number—and roles—of women because data
Most women farm small acreages, however,
collection tended to focus on one primary farm
Continued on page 23
22Continued from page 22
and woman-operated farms average 237 than men in all census years” and that
acres, compared with 482 acres for men. “women farmers have a larger portion of their
Some 20-27percent of woman-operated farms in the lower sales classes than men”
farms come through inheritance. Women (see figure 20 below).
tend to retain ownership of farmland after the
death of their husbands, leasing the land;
about 40 percent of landlords are women.
On the bright side, between 1978 and 1997
Types of Farms Operated by Women:
the number of woman-operated farms in the
Women are more likely than men to raise
highest sales class has risen by >300
livestock or high-value crops. Once focused
percent. However, these gains are “offset by
on beef cattle, women primary farm
the decline in all other classes except the
operators have diversified in the last 20 years
lowest” (Penni Korb, ERS) and the 2007
to specialize in horses, aquaculture, fur-
Family Farm Report shows a disproportion-
bearing animals, and other kinds of livestock
ately high number of women farmers in the
Female operators are less likely than males to limited resource farm category.
produce commodities under contract. Women
who do contract are more likely to have
1 This article was drawn from the following sources:
production contracts, while males are more
The 2002 Census of Agriculture, USDA/NASS
likely to have marketing contracts. Female
Hoppe, R., Korb, P. O’Donoghue E., and Banker, D.
operators are less likely than males to receive (2007). Structure and Finances of U.S. Farms:
transition payments, but females are more Family Farm Report, 2007 Edition. (Economic
Information Bulletin Number 24). Washington, DC:
likely than males to be enrolled in the CRP. Economic Research Service.
Hoppe, Robert A., editor, Structural and Financial
Woman-Operated Farms are Generally Characteristics of U.S. Farms: 2001 Family Farm
Report, Resource Economics Division, Economic
Less Affluent than Male-Operated Farms: Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Agriculture Information Bulletin No. 768
The 2004 Family Farm Report looks at Census
Penni Penni, “Women Farmers in Transition,
data from 1978–1997 and notes that “overall,
Structural and Financial Characteristics of U.S. Farms:
sales per farm were much lower for women 2004 Family Farm Report / AIB-797, Economic
Research Service/USDA,
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