Women Farmers on the Rise? Accessing and Interpreting Data about Women in Agriculture Using the USDA Census of Agriculture

Agricultural data collection in the United States has become more systematic since the first census report appeared in 1820. Conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Census of Agriculture compiles information about farm ownership and practices in the nation. It also provides the public with the data it collects in a variety of formats (for example, Quick Stats). Changes in how the USDA counts farmers, however, have made it difficult to track the trends for a group that over the past decade has attracted increasing attention by women farmers. Given these statistical limitations, this publication aims to help you navigate the Quick Stats tool more effectively, so you can more accurately interpret trends involving farmers, particularly those who are women.