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Arkansas’ Women in Agriculture: Changing Challenges and Growing Opportunities
Jennie PoppCenter for Agricultural and Rural Sustainability
Division of AgricultureUniversity of Arkansas
National Women in Agriculture ConferenceApril 1-2, 2008
Oklahoma City, OK
Characteristics of Arkansas’ Women in Agriculture Women’s roles on the farm are increasing in numbers and in
responsibilities Women are 28.6% of Arkansas farm operators 25% of these women are principal operators Their numbers are increasing every yearSource: USDA 2002 Census of Agriculture
Farm women are also increasingly working off of the farm Nationally, 30% of farm women worked off farm in 1969; by 2002, 47% of
them nationally worked off farm By 2002 that number in Arkansas was 46% Sources: The Invisible Farmers: Women in Agricultural Production by Carolyn Sachs, USDA 2002 Census of Agriculture
Women hold many roles in agriculture off farm Working in agricultural support industries Working in rural and community development organizationsSources: The Entrepreneurial Characteristics of Farm Women by B. Tanner, Women and Farming: Changing Roles,
Changing Structures by W. Haney and J. Knowles
Why the Changes? Similar to reasons why women all around the nation are
becoming more involved in agriculture, by: Inheritance Divorce Illness CHOICE
Nationally, agriculture-related degrees given to females - more than doubled from 1993 to 2000, Source: USDA REEIS Total FAEIS Degrees Awarded by Classification of Instructional Program and Gender
Between 1997 and 2005, the agriculturally related degrees (ignoring HESC) earned by women increased 52% Sources University of Arkansas Institutional Research
In Arkansas and elsewhere, agriculturally related education programs are acknowledging this fast growing clientele.
Education Programs for Women in Agriculture Prerequisites to effective education programs – understandings
of the knowledge the needs and the experience of the education program participants.
In Arkansas, educational program development included taking assessments of participants of the 2005-2007 Arkansas Women in Agriculture conferences
Surveys were used to identify recent changes in their roles on and off the farm, the challenges they face in their businesses and factors important to achieving success, as they define it
This is the first such data set on agricultural women in Arkansas
Objectives Provide selected summary results from
these surveys
Test for differences in survey responses between types of agricultural women and across years.
Identify educational needs and opportunities for a growing clientele of agricultural women
Methods The 752 female participants of the 2005-2007 Arkansas Women in
Agriculture Conferences were asked to complete a survey*
The response rates were 55% (147 of 269) in 2005 36% (108 of 300) in 2006, and 49% (89 of 183) in 2007
Respondents placed into two groups Agriculture business owners (ABOs) – women who owned or jointly operated
a farm, ranch or agriculturally-related business (ag banks, input suppliers, vet medicine, ag organizations, etc)
Agriculture business employees (ABEs) – women who were employees of farms/ranch and agriculturally-related businesses
*2008 conference participants recently surveyed but data not yet analyzed
Methods Survey questions related to
their type of business, their role in the business and how changes in that role impacted various aspects of their home and
business how important certain factors are to their career success, the challenges they face
Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used to test for significant differences (p=0.10) in responses across years and between ABO and ABE groups
Follow up focus groups used to explain responses (13 conducted over three year period, each group averaged 10 people, 6 of whom had completed surveys)
Selected results follow
Characteristics of Survey Respondents 2005-2007
Of the 344 survey respondents, 210 were ABOs. 16% considered themselves principal operators. 33% believed they had a greater role in the
business today than they did three years ago. 72% would probably or definitely continue to run the
business if something happen to their business or domestic partner.
Characteristics of Survey Respondents 2005-2007
The remaining 134 women were ABEs working for: Lending institutions Input suppliers Farm organizations Educational institutions (and their work was
agricultural – related)
Which Factors are Important in Measuring Your Success?11 Options I can talents and skills directly I feel secure in my employment I can make key decisions I can meet current financial needs I can try new ways of doing things I can participate in environmental conservation programs (ag
and non-ag) I am excited about my work I have flexible work hours I can balance my work and free time I can be involved in my community I improve my standard of
living I can pass on the business to a family member I can provide jobs for my community
Factors2005 2006 2007
ABO ABE Pr ABO ABE Pr ABO ABE Pr
apply talents and skills 87.4 97.8 0.0451 87.7 94.1 0.2727 78.6 100. 0.0376
secure in my employment 67.9 88.6 0.1318 72.3 94.1 0.0452 78.6 91.3 0.1565
try new ways 81.2 91.1 0.3663 81.0 97.0 0.1324 65.9 90.9 0.0348
excited about work 86.2 89.1 0.0376 84.1 87.9 0.8525 80.5 82.6 0.9800
flexible work hours 82.8 80.9 0.4794 69.8 56.3 0.0694 68.3 56.5 0.6481
improve standard of living 77.4 91.3 0.3766 73.0 78.8 0.8190 65.9 95.5 0.0022
pass on the business 79.3 18.6<0.000
165.6 16.1 <0.0001 63.4 25.0 0.0233
provide jobs 58.8 27.9 0.0094 50.0 42.4 0.5489 42.5 27.3 0.5484
Higher percentage of ABEs measure success by black factorsHigher percentage of ABOs measure success by red factorsOpnions of ABOs and ABEs are different for results in blue
Which areas represent challenges for you in your business?
13 options Networking with others Finding good information about BMPs for my business Finding information about government programs related to my work Qualifying for government programs related to my business Knowing where/how to market my products Keeping up with environmental regulations regarding my business Keeping financial records Finding/affording a good lawyer Keeping good employees Handling my cash flow Gaining access to credit Completing loan forms and other important paperwork Being respected as a female business person
Factors2005 2006 2007
ABO ABE Pr ABO ABE Pr ABO ABE Pr
Info about govt programs 37.4 17.2 0.0452 32.2 22.7 0.7821 30.0 22.7 0.4313
qualifying for govt program 33.7 17.9 0.0039 40.7 23.8 0.0423 41.0 21.1 0.3361
marketing products 30.6 14.3 0.2945 28.8 13.6 0.0691 25.6 20.0 0.9570
environmental regulations 40.0 25.0 0.3976 33.9 14.3 0.1778 25.0 30.0 0.7504
keeping financial records 41.4 14.8 0.1614 33.9 17.4 0.0558 25.0 40.0 0.4705
finding/keeping a lawyer 42.4 29.6 0.1940 34.5 22.7 0.3942 35.0 15.8 0.2637
keeping good employees 48.8 25.0 0.0374 51.7 13.6 0.0184 43.6 35.0 0.0708
being respected 41.2 37.9 0.4902 39.0 36.4 0.2428 32.5 47.6 0.7546
Higher percentage of ABOs have problems all factors aboveOpinions of ABOs and ABEs are different for results in blue
Relatively small percentage of women overall have problems in these areasBeing respected as a female business person is one of the most often reported problems
Differences Across Time
Results were tested for significant differences across time
Few significant differences emerged The percentage of ABOs that had problems keeping financial
records and being respected both fell between 2005 and 2007 The percentage of ABEs that agreed meeting current financial
needs was important increased over time Across all respondents, the importance of having flexible work
hours decreased over time
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
100.0
Keeping financial records(ABOs problems)
Being respected as afemale business person
(ABOs problems)
Meeting current financialneeds (ABEs
important factors)
Having flexible work hours(All women- important
factors)
Factors different across years
Pe
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nta
ge
of
wo
me
n t
ha
t a
gre
ed
or
str
on
gly
ag
ree
d
2005
2006
2007
Explaining the Results Arkansas’ Agricultural Women are
Motivated ABOs have confidence through
education and experience to lead agricultural operations on and off the farm
Many ABEs expect to become leaders in their respective farm and non-farm agricultural operations in the future
Explaining the Results Arkansas’ Agricultural Women are
Community Minded Many ABOs put community before profit;
business driven by desire to provide community jobs and agricultural experiences for youth
Nearly 70% of respondents were members of at least one community organization and provided their ag-related expertise to community on a volunteer basis
Explaining the Results Arkansas’ Agricultural Women Can Work in
Traditional Man’s World Business culture is changing
Agribusinesses (particularly lenders and equipment dealers) more comfortable working with ABOs
In part this is because more women are the agribusiness personnel dealers
Networks for ABOs and ABEs emerging However, not all areas of agriculture are transforming
at the same rate
Explaining the Results Arkansas’ Agricultural Women Want
Agricultural- Related Business Assistance Demand Annie’s Project in State
First three classes will complete the course by May 2008
Demand Active Educational Program Efforts led by Arkansas Women in Agriculture,
Inc. and assisted by University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service
Conclusions Women’s Roles include more responsibilities including
leadership and decision-making
Data suggests that needs vary from different groups of women at different points in time
ABOs and ABEs share some problems in business, as well as factors important to them, but also differ because of backgrounds
Further research on women in agriculture is needed, especially at different times, to explore, more in depth, their needs and roles
What’s Next We’ve only just begun!
Expanded efforts on Arkansas’ Women in Agriculture research Comprehensive cataloging of research on women in agriculture
around the nation Identification of womens’ needs, challenges and opportunities
nationwide that will drive research and education programs into the future
Acknowledgements
A special thank you goes to Ms. Carmen Albright, 2007 University of Arkansas graduate who conducted much of the analysis as her undergraduate thesis research.
Thank You
For more information, contact:Jennie Popp
University of Arkansas217 Agriculture BuildingFayetteville, AR 72701
(479)[email protected]