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The role of women on farms in the United States today is an important topic deserving of our attention. Farm women have long provided support to U.S. farms and ranches in terms of their on-farm work that has historically included, to varying degrees, work in the fields, tending animals, keeping books, working in farm- related value-added enterprises, and making farm decisions, among other forms of work. Women's roles on farms are particularly important today because women now face more options: they can choose to own and operate a farm or ranch as a principal farm operator, be one of several main farm operators, own and operate a nonfarm business or have an extra job off the farm. That is, today they have more options for financially supporting the farm household and the farm operation itself. They also likely have an important voice in the transferral of the farm in the long run. Women on U.S. farms often outlive husbands and partners, and therefore very likely influence the ultimate transferral or even disposition of the farm.
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