2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer

Jan 30

Berrien County Conservation District will be celebrating The 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer by featuring spotlight stories of our women farmers here in Berrien County through the year.

We will dive into the impact on women in global food security, address critical gender gaps in agriculture and promote equitable access to land, technology and financing. While we are lining up some great women around the county to share their stories lets dive into some of the issues surrounding women farmers.

In this month’s topic let’s dive into addressing the global gender gap which requires overcoming systemic barriers, including the severe limitations on women's access to credit, ownership of land, and technical education. Globally, less than one in five landholders are women, a 16-percentage-point gap in account ownership exists, and patriarchal norms often limit access to education and training.

Key challenges in addressing the global gender gap include:

Unequal Access to Land Ownership: Women face discriminatory practices regarding land tenure, with many suffering from eviction upon widowhood or being denied inheritance rights in over 100 countries. This marginalization persists despite women forming nearly half of the agricultural workforce in many regions.
Lack of Access to Credit and Financial Services: A persistent 16% gender gap in account ownership limits women's ability to save, invest, or access loans. Women often face higher hurdles in accessing financial services due to a lack of collateral (like land) and "time poverty" from unpaid household responsibilities.
Limited Access to Technical Education: Gender disparities in education, particularly in STEM and technical fields, restrict women's career opportunities and economic empowerment. Even where school enrollment is equal, cultural norms can cause higher drop-out rates for girls, limiting their pursuit of vocational training.
Patriarchal Norms and Cultural Barriers: Underlying all these issues, deeply ingrained patriarchal norms and discrimination restrict women's control over resources and decision-making power.

Addressing these issues is essential for economic growth, reducing poverty, and achieving sustainable development.

How are we doing in the United States on this issue? We found the following statistics for the United Sates.

Current Demographics

Total Representation: According to the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture, there are 1.2 million female producers, making up 36% of all U.S. farmers.
Farm Involvement: Over half of all U.S. farms (58%) have at least one female decision-maker, though only 8% to 14% of farms are run entirely by women.
Emerging Trends: Women are more prominent among newer farmers; 41% of beginning farmers (those with 10 or fewer years of experience) are women.

The Earnings & Productivity Gap

Profit Disparity: For every $1 in profit earned by a women-run farm, a male-run farm earns approximately $2.50 when including assets like land and machinery.
Income Lag: Female farmers' earnings typically lag 20% to 30% behind their male counterparts in crop yields and general earnings.
Farm Size: Much of the gap is attributed to scale; 58% of farms with a female producer generate less than $10,000 in annual sales, and women are far less likely to operate large-scale commodity farms.

Land & Resource Access

Ownership vs. Operation: While women own roughly half of all U.S. farmland, they often do so as "non-operator" landlords. Male principal operators still account for 90% of owner-operated land.
Government Support: Women receive less financial and technical assistance. For example, between 2015 and 2020, only 16% of NRCS conservation incentive contracts were awarded to women.
Industry Focus: Female producers are most concentrated in specialty crops (vegetables, fruits, greenhouse) and small livestock (sheep, goats, poultry). They have the lowest representation in large-scale commodity crops like cotton (27.5%) and grains (25.9%).

Female producers vary significantly by state, and the highest concentrations are out west and, in the Northeast, with Arizona, Alaska, New Hampshire, Oregon, Maine, Hawaii and Rhode Island leading the way.

In Berrien County, the gender gap in agriculture is slightly narrower than the national average in terms of representation, however they also found significant disparities remain in leadership and their primary occupation status. So, Based on the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture for Berrien County:

Demographic Breakdown

Total Producers: There are 1,495 total producers in the county.
Female Representation: Women make up 35.5% of the producer population (531 female producers vs. 964 male producers).
Primary Occupation: Only 45.7% of female producers in Berrien County report farming as their primary occupation, while the majority (54.3%) list another career as their main source of income.

Leadership and Decision-Making

Farm Roles: While women represent over a third of producers, they account for only 10.5% of "principal" operators (the person with the most responsibility for daily decisions).
Beginning Farmers: Women are heavily represented in the next generation; approximately 40% of new and beginning farmers in the county are women.

Production Focus

Female-operated farms in Berrien County are concentrated in high-value specialty sectors:

Fruit and Berries: Berrien ranks 2nd in Michigan for fruit, tree nut, and berry production, a sector where women-run farms are most prevalent.
Vegetables: The county ranks 4th in the state for vegetable acreage, another key area for female producers.

Historical Progress

The number of female producers in Berrien County has grown steadily over the last decade:

2012: 452 female producers
2017: 507 female producers
2022: 531 female producers

How can we continue to close these gaps here in Berrien County you ask? Several targeted programs and funding sources are available to help women farmers bridge this gap.

Training and Mentorship Programs

Annie’s Project: Offered through MSU Extension, this is a premier educational program specifically for farm women. It focuses on risk management, financial record-keeping, and decision-making skills.
Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS) Women-In-Ag (WIA) Network: This statewide network provides mentorship and peer-to-peer support. While its demonstration farm is in Genesee County, its Women-In-Ag Network serves as a vital hub for female producers across Michigan to connect and share resources.
Berrien County Conservation District Training: Local producers can access Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training to meet federal safety requirements, a critical step for specialty crop farmers looking to scale.

Grants & Financial Assistance

USDA "Socially Disadvantaged" Loans: The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) reserves a specific portion of its loan funds for women and minority farmers. These include Microloans (up to $50,000) for operating costs and Down Payment Loans for purchasing farmland.
REAP (Rural Energy for America Program): Female farmers in rural areas like Berrien County can apply for REAP grants that cover up to 50% of the cost of installing solar energy or making energy-efficiency upgrades.
Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG): Administered by USDA Rural Development, this program offers up to $250,000 for working capital. It gives priority consideration to "socially disadvantaged" producers, including women.
MDARD Grants: The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) offers various grants, such as the Last Food Mile Grant and Specialty Crop Block Grants, which are highly relevant for Berrien County's fruit and vegetable producers.
The Amber Grant: While not agriculture-specific, this monthly $10,000 grant for women-owned businesses is frequently used by small-scale female farmers to fund equipment or marketing.
Cultivate Growth Grants: From Greenstone FCS offering up to $40,000 for eligible young, beginning and small farmers.

Statewide Support Hubs

MIFarmLink: A tool to connect beginning farmers with land and mentorship opportunities. It includes a resource directory specifically for Michigan-based agricultural education.
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE): Offers Farmer Rancher Grants for those pursuing innovative, sustainable practices. Local MSU coordinators can help female applicants review their proposals.

But what can we do to bridge this gender gap globally from right here in Berrien County, well you can leverage the region’s unique agricultural status to influence broader markets and policies. Here is a list of some of the things you can do to have a local and global impact.

1. Support "Gender-Lens" Purchasing

Direct-to-Consumer: Buy from the numerous women-owned orchards and farm stands in Berrien County. Increasing their revenue helps them scale, providing a blueprint for women-led agribusiness.
Supply Chain Advocacy: If you work with local food processors or retailers, encourage them to adopt Gender-Responsive Procurement (sourcing specifically from women-owned businesses).

2. Expand Local Mentorship to Global Networks

Host International Fellows: Organizations like the World Business Chicago’s Professional Fellows Program often seek regional hosts. Berrien County farmers can mentor visiting female agriculturalists from developing nations.
Collaborate with MSU’s Global Reach: Michigan State University’s Global Agri-Food System research often connects Michigan farmers with international projects. You can volunteer your farm or expertise as a "learning lab" for global studies.

3. Leverage Local Technology for Global Impact

Share Innovations: Berrien County is a leader in fruit and vegetable technology. Female farmers here can share "climate-smart" techniques (like drip irrigation or integrated pest management) via global platforms like the Farmer-to-Farmer Program.
Invest in Ag-Tech: Support or invest in female-led ag-tech startups in Michigan that are developing low-cost, labor-saving tools designed for smallholder farmers worldwide.

4. Advocacy and Policy Support

Farm Bill Advocacy: Contact your representative (currently MI-05 or MI-04) to advocate for the inclusion of international gender-equity provisions in the U.S. Farm Bill, which influences global agricultural standards and aid.
Donate via Specialty Brands: Support global organizations like Heifer International or Root Capital that provide female farmers in the Global South with the same credit access you’re advocating for in Michigan.
The West Michigan Young Farmers Coalition: focus on equitable land access, policy advocacy, and connecting urban/rural farmers.

5. Educational Outreach

Berrien County Youth Programs: Support 4-H and FFA chapters that emphasize global agricultural challenges. Shaping the perspective of young female leaders in Southwest Michigan creates future advocates for global equity.
Berrien County Farm Bureau: Become a member and get involved in the young farmer program. The Michigan Young Farmer program (ages 18–35) offers female farmers leadership development, networking, and professional growth.

We hope you find this information helpful and we look forward to bringing you are first featured female farmer in our March newsletter.