With the United Nations’ designation of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer shining a global spotlight on women in agriculture, census data underscores just how central women have become to the future of U.S. farming, particularly in organic production.
According to the most recent Census of Agriculture, more than half of U.S. farms report having at least one female decision-maker, with women accounting for 36% of all producers and 41% of beginning farmers. Their presence is even stronger in organic agriculture, where women are primary operators on 18% of organic farms compared to 14% of conventional operations, a gap that highlights organic’s appeal as an entry point and long-term career path for women.
Those numbers reflect a steady increase over the past few decades, a trend Kate Mendenhall, executive director of the Organic Farmers Association and owner-operator of Okoboji Organics in northwest Iowa, sees firsthand. She attributes part of the growth to changes in how the ag census asks who actually makes decisions on farms, whereas earlier surveys often listed only one operator, newer approaches better capture farm operations as team efforts, bringing women’s roles into clearer view.
At the same time, Mendenhall says women are increasingly drawn to organic and sustainable agriculture as consumer demand grows for food produced without synthetic chemicals. As a mother and livestock farmer, she says those values are deeply personal. Farming organically allows her to raise food for her community while also creating a safe environment for her children to be part of daily farm life, an experience she says resonates with many women entering the field.
“The organic community was incredibly welcoming to me,” Mendenhall says, adding that seeing other successful women farmers helped her envision agriculture as a viable career after being discouraged from farming during the Midwest farm crisis of her youth. That sense of inclusion, she says, continues to draw women into organic production and helps explain why their representation is higher than in conventional farming.
Despite the progress reflected in census data, Mendenhall says visibility remains a challenge.
She recalls registering her farm with the local Farm Service Agency and being asked repeatedly who would actually be doing the work. Her answer each time: “Me.” Experiences like that, she says, underscore why recognition of women as primary operators remains a key issue during the International Year of the Woman Farmer.
From her dual role as a working farmer and national advocate, Mendenhall brings that lived experience to her leadership at OFA.
Managing organic certification paperwork, working with USDA agencies, hosting farm tours and marketing directly to customers all inform the policy priorities she advances in Washington, D.C. Being rooted in the day-to-day realities of farming, she says, gives her credibility as well as urgency when advocating for programs that truly meet farmers’ needs.
As the International Year of the Woman Farmer unfolds, Mendenhall hopes the focus will inspire more women and girls to see themselves in agriculture. Representation matters, she says, not only to close long-standing recognition gaps but also to ensure the next generation of farmers reflects the diversity, resilience and values shaping the future of food.
