As Women’s History Month comes to a close, a notable shift in American agriculture is worth celebrating: more women than ever are stepping into leadership roles on the farm. These producers are not only shaping the future of farming—they’re also driving growth in local economies and contributing to the nation’s food supply.
A new analysis from Trace One identifies the U.S. counties and states with the most female farmers, highlighting where women are making the biggest impact in agriculture.
Key Findings, With Data for New York State
- Women Now Make Up Over a Third of All U.S. Farmers: According to the USDA, there are currently 1.2 million female farmers in the U.S., making up 36.3% of all producers—individuals actively involved in decision-making for farming operations. These women manage 407 million acres of land and contribute $222 billion in agricultural sales.
- Female Representation Rises While Male Numbers Decline: The number of male producers has declined since 2007, while the share of female producers has increased in every Census since 2002.
- Women Dominate Small Livestock and Specialty Farming: Female farmers are most concentrated in livestock operations with smaller animals, specialty crops, and greenhouse production, while they are least concentrated in large-scale commodity farming like oilseeds, grains, and tobacco.
- Female Farmers in New York State: 63.1% of the farms in New York State are female-operated, meaning at least one producer is a woman. Meanwhile, 38.0% of all New York State producers are women.
The full report covers all 50 states and more than 3,000 counties, with a detailed breakdown of female producers, female-operated farms, and how those numbers have shifted over the past decade.