She’s in a League of Her Own
A new information hub puts the world’s women farmers front and center and gives agriculture a blueprint for what comes next.
The International Year of the Woman Farmer officially launched this fall, shining a light on the women who grow nearly half of the world’s food. They run combines, manage books, broker deals, track weather, raise livestock, innovate inside labs and lead organizations. Yet they still fight for access to land, markets and leadership seats that too often remain out of reach.
A new information hub, created by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and 15 national and international partners, aims to change that. The platform went live Oct. 15 on the International Day of Rural Women to elevate women’s stories across the globe and spark new momentum behind their leadership. The hub is the first visible piece of a larger coordinated effort behind the International Year of the Woman Farmer, a United States–led global initiative that recognizes what agriculture looks like when women have equal opportunity to shape it.
How will this initiative change support for women in agriculture?
It offers a coordinated global platform that highlights women’s contributions and pushes for stronger leadership pathways.
Behind the hub sits a straightforward idea — that visibility can change outcomes. Research shows women face persistent barriers to land ownership, financing and leadership despite their outsized role in food production. The new platform collects stories, tools and data to help industry partners better support women in agriculture worldwide.
The Leadership Pipeline Women Have Been Building
A core feature is the National Women in Agriculture Study, a multi-stakeholder project led by the American Farm Bureau Federation to understand who the nation’s women producers are and what they need to thrive. USDA data shows the United States had 1.2 million female producers in 2022, making up 36 percent of all agricultural producers. The study will dig into leadership trends, barriers and opportunities across the sector and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
“The International Year of the Woman Farmer provides an opportunity to honor and empower women shaping the future of agriculture,” says NASDA President Amanda Beal. “Through collaboration with these key stakeholders in the agriculture industry, we can highlight the achievements and challenges of women farmers while building resources that can inspire meaningful change.”
The working group backing the initiative is broad by design. It includes the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Farmland Trust, American Soybean Association, Annie’s Project, Corus International, Dairy Farmers of America, Farm Credit, Dairy Girl Network, Equal Origins, International Fresh Produce Association, NASDA, National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union, National Young Farmers Coalition, Public Lands Council and the U.S. Dairy Export Council.
“Farm and ranch women contribute so much to our society, from rural communities to big cities all across the globe,” says Isabella Chism, an Indiana farmer and chair of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Women’s Leadership Committee. “We’re delighted to work together with a variety of partners across the agricultural industry to honor those contributions, cultivate learning opportunities and empower women farmers around the world.”
What Happens When an Entire Industry Decides to Listen?
For the International Fresh Produce Association, the initiative reflects the collaborative nature of the produce and floral sectors and underscores the need for inclusive leadership across the supply chain. NCGA president Jed Bower, an Ohio farmer, says the recognition is overdue.
“Women have always been an important part of farming, and increasingly we are seeing our daughters step up and take over our family farms,” he says. “So, it’s only appropriate that we honor women farmers in this way.”
The National Young Farmers Coalition highlights the role women play in organizing communities and pushing for accessible land, credit and fair markets for the next generation. “Young Farmers is honored to be in coalition with many national and international partners to highlight the role of women farmers,” says Government Relations Director Vanessa Garcia Polanco.
The coalition’s next milestone is already in motion. The International Year of the Woman Farmer ACE Summit runs June 1–3, 2026, in Washington, D.C., hosted by the American Farm Bureau Federation. ACE — Advocate, Cultivate, Empower — is structured around skill building, high-impact networking and hands-on advocacy sessions. It will also be the first public look at the findings from the National Women in Agriculture Study.
For agriculture, designating 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer is more than symbolic. It sets a new expectation for how the industry sees, supports and celebrates the women who grow the world’s food. The information hub will add new stories and resources throughout the year.
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