This document summarizes research on women farmers in Wisconsin, focusing on those in direct marketing and dairy. It describes the methods used, including surveys of 373 women in direct marketing and 211 in dairy. Key findings include: Most women direct market farmers operate under 100 acres and raise vegetables, poultry, beef and tree fruit. They are more likely to work off-farm compared to dairy farmers. Most dairy farmers operate conventionally with 188 owned and 75 rented acres and 87 cows on average. Both groups commonly use conservation practices like plans and no-till. Outreach can be improved through better websites and targeting underused programs. The most important information sources are other farmers and internet, while Extension is only occasionally consulted.

1. Sharon Lezberg and Astrid Newenhouse
Environmental Resources Center,
University of Wisconsin-Madison
445 Henry Mall, Rm. 202A,
Madison, WI 53706-1577
www.uwex.edu/erc/sustainableag
Briefing 2
Wisconsin Women Farmers:
Conservation Practices, Information
Gathering, and Opportunities for
UW-Extension
1
Research Brief #1: Hispanic Farmers in Wisconsin: Background and Information Needs. University of Wisconsin-Madison: Environmental Resources Center. 05/2011
Introduction: Highlighted in this publication is part of a larger project“Effective
Outreach for a New Wisconsin Agriculture: A Social Marketing Approach to the
Environmental Management Needs of Hispanic and Women Farmers.” The research
was funded by the North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
(SARE) Grant program and conducted by staff at the Environmental Resources
Center of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with outreach support from the
Wisconsin Farm Center, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer
Protection. This report is the second in a two-part series.1
KristinKordetSharonLezbergJenniferBlazek

2. 2
The goal of this project is to increase the effective-
ness of outreach strategies to serve the growing
number of women farm principal operators in
Wisconsin.2
We targeted our research activities on
women principal operators in two sectors: direct
marketing and dairy.
Three research objectives guided our research:
! gain a better understanding ofWisconsin’s
women farm operators;
@ learn about constraints, resource and
information needs, and environmental
management practices of these farmers;
and
# identify ways in which the University of
Wisconsin-Extension (UWEX) and other
farm support organizations and
institutions can better serve women
farmers.
We used several methods to accomplish these
objectives:
! Mailed 601 surveys to women farmers
(373 responses, 62% response rate) who
reported in the 2002 or 2007 agricultural
Objectives and Methods ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
censuses that they were women, the
principal farm operator, and marketing
their product through direct marketing,3
@ Mailed 755 surveys to women dairy
farmers who reported in the 2002 or
2007 agricultural censuses that they
were women, the principal farm operator,
and operating a dairy farm. The survey
population included both women who
raise dairy cows and those who raise
dairy sheep and goats.4
# Conducted preliminary interviews
with 12 women farmers in the direct
market sector;5
$ Conducted eight in-depth interviews
with women in the direct market sector;
% Conducted nine in-depth interviews
with women in the dairy sector;
^ Held a discussion session, attended by
over 40 direct market farmers;6
& Held three focus groups of six to eight
women dairy farmers.
2
The United States Census of Agriculture (2002) defines the“principal operator”as“The person primarily responsible for the on-site, day-to-day operation of the farm or
ranch business. This person may be a hired manager or business manager.”Our study defined principal operator as those women who farm solo or with a spouse or partner,
but who make or help make the main decisions about how the farm is managed.
3
The United States Census of Agriculture is conducted every five years by the Department of Agriculture. Census data for Wisconsin are collected and analyzed by
the Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics Service (WASS). For our research, we used the mailing lists compiled from the WASS database for the 2002 and 2007 censuses of
Agriculture. We sent out 601 surveys to Wisconsin women farmers in the direct market sector from January - February 2009. Of these, 373 complete surveys were returned
(62% response rate). We used a modified Dillman survey technique, where each potential respondent received 4 contacts from us (preliminary letter, first survey with letter,
reminder postcard, and second survey with letter).
4
Of the 755 surveys that were returned, 335 surveys were completed (43% response rate). Many more were returned incomplete, with“not a woman dairy farmer”checked.
We think the high rate of incomplete surveys was due to both (1) incorrect lists, and (2) the inclusion of a small number of dairy sheep and goat farmers in the survey
population, combined with our characterization of the survey. The survey was titled“Survey of Women Dairy Farmers in Wisconsin”: dairy and goat farmers may have
thought that this was meant to include only dairy cow operations. On analysis, we found that the dairy sheep and goat farmers were different in many characteristics from
the dairy cow farmers, so we separated out these farmers. Beyond this group, we eliminated a further 51 surveys as invalid. The analysis for this report is based on survey
responses from 211 women dairy cow farm operators.
5
Preliminary interviews were conducted at two conference settings: the Midwest Value Added Farming Conference, Jan. 24-25, 2008, Eau Claire, WI and the Midwest
Organic Farming Conference, Feb. 21-23, 2008, La Crosse, WI. These interviews were meant to get a sense of what issues were regarded as important to women farmers,
and to refine survey and interview tools for more in-depth analysis.
6
The discussion was a modified focus group, billed as a‘conversation circle for women farmers,’held at the Organic Farming Conference held in La Crosse, Wisconsin in
February 2009.
7
Roth, C. J. and C. Lachenmayer, 2006.“Women Farmers in Value-Added Agriculture”In Status of Wisconsin Agriculture, 2006, 42-47. University of Wisconsin-Madison:
Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics.
8
Vogt, J., D. Jackson-Smith, M. Ostrom, S. Lezberg, 2001.“The Roles of Women on Wisconsin Dairy Farms at the Turn of the 21st Century,”PATS Research Report No. 10.
University of Wisconsin-Madison: Program on Agricultural Technology Studies.
9
In Wisconsin (2007), 6% of women principal operators are in the dairy sector (555 farms, out of 9,176 total), versus 1% for the rest of the country (3,363 farms, out of 306,
209 total (Census of Agriculture, 2007).

3. 3
The Census of Agriculture shows a 58% increase in the number of women principal operators in Wisconsin
over the 10 year period from 1997 to 2007 – from 5,793 in 1997 to 9,176 in 2007. Our research focused on
two groups of women farmers: those in the direct market sector, and those in the dairy sector. We targeted
the direct market sector because of the prevalence of women farm operators in that sector. Research from
the University ofWisconsin’s Program on AgriculturalTechnology Studies (PATS) found that while the number
of women operating agricultural businesses has increased across all sectors of agriculture, women are more
broadly represented as primary decision makers in the direct market sector (Roth & Lachenmayer, 2006).7
We targeted the dairy sector because of its importance and predominance in Wisconsin. Previous research
from PATS (Vogt, et.al., 2001)8
documented the important role women play on dairy farms, but did not
specifically address the views of women principal operators in the sector.9
How Many Women Farmers are there in Wisconsin?
Figure 1
Most women (72%) who operate non-dairy direct market farms in Wisconsin farm fewer than 100 acres.
Figure 1 shows the products raised by women direct market farmers. Respondents identified all products
grown or raised on the farm.The most frequently mentioned products raised were vegetables (40%), poultry
and eggs (35%), beef (31%) and tree fruit (30%). Also mentioned were berries, sheep and goats, greenhouse
production, row crops, pigs and several minor crops. When asked to choose the best category to describe
their operation, less than half (37%) of the women described their farm as conventional, and the remainder
described their farms as non-certified organic (30%), certified organic (6%), sustainable (16%), transitional
organic (3%), biodynamic (1%), or other. Of our respondents, 65% described themselves as the primary farm
operator; another 33% were equal partners in a jointly managed farm. Over half of our respondents worked
off farm full-time (30%) or part-time or seasonally (25%). Spouses who worked off-farm were more likely to
work full-time (45%) than part-time (8%).
Characteristics of Women Direct Market Farmers
40%
35%
31%
30%
29%
26%
24%
17%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
Vegetable and
melon
Poultry & Eggs Beef CaAle Tree Fruit Berries Sheep or goat Greenhouse,
nursery, flowers
Row crops
Percdent of Respondents
Products Raised on Direct Market Farms
WI Women Direct Market Farmers
Products Raised on Direct Market Farms
WI Women Direct Market Farmers
Survey Results ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

4. 4
The average woman dairy farmer inWisconsin owns 188 acres and rents 75 acres, with the farm size ranging
from 1-1,100 acres. Herd size averages 87 cows and ranges from 1-3,450 cows. When asked to choose the
best category to describe their operation, most of the women dairy farmers described their operations as
conventional (59%), with an additional 14% describing their farm as a concentrated animal feeding
operation (CAFO). The remainder described their operations as rotational grazing (17%), certified organic
(3%), and non-certified or transitional organic (3%) (Figure 2 - totals do not add up to 100% due to rounding).
Dairy farm women work off farm less than direct market women farmers, with respondents reporting that
they work off farm full-time (12%) or part-time/seasonally (12%). Spouses of dairy farm women are also less
likely to work off farm (23% full time, 8% part time) than spouses of women direct market farmers.
Characteristics of Women Dairy Farmers
Many women farm operators use conservation management planning.Women dairy farmers have a higher
rate of use of conservation planning than do women direct market farmers. This finding is not unexpected,
as dairy farm operators manage larger farms, grow row crops, and typically have animals on farm (Table 1).
Women Farmers and Their Conservation Practices
Table 1
14%
59%
17%
3% 3%
5%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
CAFO Conven4onal Rota4onal Grazing
System
Cer4fied Organic Non‐cer4fied organic Other
Type of Dairy Farm Produc2on System
WI Women Dairy Farmers
Planning Practice
WI Women Direct
Market Farmers
WI Women Dairy
Farmers
Soil and water conservation plan 42% 58%
Manure management plan 37% 59%
Nutrient and pesticide management plan 41% 51%
None of above 26% 21%
Figure 2 Type of Dairy Farm Production System
WI Women Dairy Farmers
Figure 3 shows the use of crop management practices for both groups of women farmers. Women dairy
farm operators are more inclined to use many of the conservation and land management practices
mentioned in the survey questions. Again, this is an expected finding, as their farms are larger in size
and many dairy farmers raise row crops for feed.

5. 5
63%
55%
44% 44%
39% 39%
36% 35%
22%
13%
50%
73%
32% 32%
40%
46%
49%
63%
44%
19%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Wildlife, Insect
Habitat Areas
Cover Crops Shelterbelts,
Windbreaks
Woodland
Management
Integrated Pest
Mgmt
Riparian Buffers
or Grassed
Waterways
No‐Rll ConservaRon
Tillage
Contour
Farming,Strip
Cropping
Terracing for
Erosion
Percent of respondents using on farm
Conserva)on and Land Management Prac)ces:
Which of the following do you use on your farm?
WI Women Direct Market Farmers WI Women Dairy Farmers
Figure 3
Participation in government conservation programs (Figure 4) varies greatly between women direct market
farmers and women dairy farmers. More women dairy farmers than women direct market farmers participate
in government conservation programs. At least 42% of women direct market farmers reported that they are
notawareofvariousoftheconservationprograms–withtheexceptionoftheConservationReserveProgram
(CRP). With respect to the CRP and Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), 46% of women
direct market farmers reported that these programs do not fit their farms. Similarly, women dairy farmers
reported that they are not aware of the Conservation Security Program (CSP, 44% unaware), the Wildlife
Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP, 36% unaware), and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP, 31%
unaware), and that the CRP and CREP programs do not fit their farm (40%).
Conservation and Land Management Practices: Which of the Following do you use on your farm?
WI Women Direct Market Farmers WI Women Dairy Farmers
Figure 4 Government Program Participation
WI Women Direct Market Farmers WI Women Dairy Farmers
16%
13%
11%
5% 5%
29%
23%
36%
8% 7%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Conserva5on Reserve Program (CRP)
or Conserva5on Reserve
Enhancement Program (CREP)
Environmental Quality Incen5ves
Program (EQIP)
Wisconsin Farmland Preserva5on
Program (FPP)
Conserva5on Security Program (CSP) Wildlife Habitat Incen5ves Program
(WHIP)
Percent Par)cipa)on
Government Program Par)cipa)on
WI Women Direct Market Farmers WI Women Dairy Farmers

6. 6
Women farmers get their information from a wide variety of sources (Figures 5-6). By far the most important
waytogetfarminginformationisthroughfarmer-to-farmerexchange,suchasaconversationwithneighbors,
at a workshop, or on a listserv. Women dairy farmers value the information they get from family members,
other farmers, and farm magazines and newspapers. Women dairy farmers are more likely to consult farm
suppliers and equipment dealers, the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and
bankers than are women direct market farmers. Only 36% of women direct market farmers we surveyed,
and 31% of the women dairy farmers, consulted UW Extension.
A vast majority of women direct market farmers considered the internet to be a “somewhat important”
or “very important”source of information (77%), in contrast to 58% of women dairy farmers. Both groups
of farmers described it as being difficult to navigate and sometimes overwhelming. The University of
Wisconsin-Extension website and the WI Department of Agriculture website were described as being
more difficult to find and use than sites from other universities or from private industry.
Where do Wisconsin Women Farmers get Information about Farming?
83%
57%
36%
26%
21% 20% 19%
74%
75%
31%
14%
54%
22%
40%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Other Farmers Farm supply
dealers
Extension Growers Assn Bankers WI Dept of Ag. County Land
Office
Sources of Informa.on consulted in the last year
WI Women Direct Market Farmers WI Women Dairy Farmers Figure 5 Sources of Information Consulted in the Last Year
WI Women Direct Market Farmers WI Women Dairy Farmers
We asked survey respondents if they wanted information or training on various topics.We supplied a list and
asked respondents for a“yes”or“no”response for each topic. Figure 6 details the information needs of women
farmers. Of note is that women direct market farmers reported a desire for information or training to a greater
extent than did women dairy farmers.
What Information do Women Farmers Seek?
The issues that concern women farmers are health care, farm profitability, work and life balance including
taking care of family members, and farm energy use. Direct market farmers are concerned with whole farm
management for environmental sustainability, profitability, and lifestyle. They are also concerned with
marketing and feasibility planning. Dairy farmers are also concerned with herd health and farm succession.
Issues of concern to women farmers are further detailed in Figures 7-10.
Issues That Concern Women Farmers

7. 7
65%
47%
41%
31%
28%
23% 21%
10%
7%
53%
62%
25%
21%
45%
23% 22% 22%
18%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Other farmers Family members Internet Conference or
workshop
Farm magazine,
newspaper
Extension
publications
Field days &
demonstrations
Equipment dealer Radio,TV
Percent of Respondents "Very Important" Sources of Informa3on
WI Women Direct Market Farmers WI Women Dairy Farmers
Figure 6 “Very Important”Sources of Information
WI Women Direct Market Farmers WI Women Dairy Farmers
Figure 7 What Information or Training do Women Farmers want?
WI Women Direct Market Farmers WI Women Dairy Farmers
53%
50%
49%
43%
38%
37%
29% 28%
45%
27%
29%
26%
29% 28%
33%
28%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Govt. Programs Sustainable/
Organic PracBces
MarkeBng Environmental
Improvement
Record Keeping Business
Planning
Animal
Husbandry
Crop ProducBon
Percent of Respondents
What Informa3on or Training do
Women Farmers want?
WI Women Direct Market Farmers WI Women Dairy Farmers

8. 8
37%
28% 27%
24%
21%
19%
15%
55%
26%
32%
34%
25% 24%
22%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Health Care Access to Labor Quality of Life Farm Succession Access to Supplies Access to Credit Access to Land
Percent "frequently or very frequently"
Startup and Opera5ons Issues:
How o;en are these issues a concern?
WI Women Direct Market Farmers WI Women Dairy Farmers
Figure 8 Startup and Operations Issues: How often are these issues a concern?
WI Women Direct Market Farmers WI Women Dairy Farmers
71%
46%
43%
33%
18%
68%
21%
31%
24%
15%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Farm Profitability Marke;ng Feasibility Planning Record Keeping Labor Management
Percent "frequently or very frequently"
Business Mgmt Issues:
How o:en are these issues a concern?
WI Women Direct Market Farmers WI Women Dairy Farmers
Figure 9 Business Management Issues: How often are these issues a concern?
WI Women Direct Market Farmers WI Women Dairy Farmers

9. 9
Figure 10 Production Issues or Practices: How often are these issues a concern?
WI Women Direct Market Farmers
Figure 11 Production Issues or Practices: How often are these issues a concern?
WI Women Dairy Farmers
35% 32%
20% 20%
15%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Animal Health,
Nutri7on
Farm Energy Use Soil & Water
Conserva7on
Food Product Safety Manure Management
Percent "frequently or very frequently"
Produc1on Issues or Prac1ces:
How o8en are these issues a concern?
WI Women Dairy Farmers
47%
37%
34% 34%
21%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
Farm Energy Use Soil & Water
Conserva>on
Ecological Health Food Product Safety Chemical Fer>lizer and
Pes>cide Use
Percent "frequently or very frequently"
Produc1on Issues or Prac1ces:
How o8en are these issues a concern?
WI Women Direct Market Farmers

10. 10
In focus groups and interviews with women
farmers, the most important and frequent
challenge brought up by women farmers is being
treated with respect as a farmer. Women described
being treated as though they were less
knowledgeable and less responsible for making
decisions than their spouses, sons, or fathers.
Women farmers, either solo or in partnership with
men, desire to be treated by agency personnel,
implement dealers, and suppliers as informed and
capable of making decisions.These authors identify
the issue of respect as the main issue to be
addressedinordertoimprovetheworkenvironment
for women farmers.
Other challenges that women farmers brought up
include:
! not understanding the jargon of
government programs and sometimes
the technical language of farming or
equipment maintenance and repair;
@ problems dealing with machinery;
# difficulty getting credit or loans;
$ challenges maintaining a work and family
balance;
% finding time and energy to take care of
children, parents, and disabled family
members;
^ safety of kids on the farm (primarily for
dairy farmers).
The Role of UW-Extension ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
How do Women Farmers Have Contact with
UW-Extension?
Several women farmers mentioned contacting
Extension for very specific needs such as to borrow
a soil probe, become a 4-H leader, attend a
workshop, or take a class to write a business plan.
Women dairy farmers reported seeing Extension
educators at events such as Farm Technology Days
Challenges Specific to Being a Woman
Farmer –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
and farm organization meetings and events.
Women farmers who sought information from
Extension expressed frustration that even if their
county agent did not know the answer to a
question, they wished that their agent would guide
them to an expert who could respond to their
inquiry. Of note is that a few women farmers from
larger farms indicated a close working relationship
withExtensioneducatorsaspartofacomprehensive
management team.
How Can Extension and Other Agencies
Improve Outreach to Women Farmers?
Reinforce a culture of respect: Extension and
other agency staff will improve their work with
women farmers if they can reinforce a culture of
respect for the farmer as the decision maker and
farm manager.
Target smaller scale farms and beginning
farms: Direct market farm operations range in
size and degree of capitalization, with the
vast majority of these farms under 100 acres (and
many between 3-10 acres). To reach farmers on
smaller acreage, Extension staff must adapt
educational programming and outreach methods
to cater to these farmers and their enterprises.
Educational programming focused on issues of
value-added marketing, business management,
and organic/sustainable production practices will
have more appeal to these farmers than more
traditionalcropandanimalmanagementeducation.
Advertise programs through traditional and
newmethods:Toreachwomenfarmers,announce
educational opportunities through 4-H, Family
Living (nutrition), and across other Extension
programs.When trying to reachWisconsin’s women
dairy farmers, traditional print media outlets,
such as Hoard’s Dairyman and The Country
Today, as well as farm radio, are effective. To reach
women direct market farmers, we encourage new
methods , such as announcing programs through
listservs of other organizations to which these
women are affiliated, including the Wisconsin
Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer
Protection’s (DATCP) “Something Special from
Wisconsin ”program, non-profit organizations that
support community supported agriculture, farmers’

11. 11
Learning for life
May 2011
USDA NCR-SARE grant LNC07-290
market organizations, the “buy local” movement,
andtheMidwestOrganicandSustainableEducation
Service (MOSES).
Use clear language: When speaking with women
farmers or preparing program materials, use clear
language without jargon.
Support farmer-to-farmer educational
programming: Farmers appreciate learning from
other farmers. Farmer to farmer exchange supports
innovation, cooperation, and encourages
a culture of respect. In focus group discussions
and interviews, farmers repeatedly stressed that
they would like Extension educators to serve
as facilitators of farmer information exchange
(through activities such as farm walks, farmer
networking, new farmer mentoring, and organized
tours on diverse farm operations). Farmers have a
great deal to teach Extension staff and staff from
other agencies, as well. Extension staff can increase
their own knowledge and credibility with women
farmers by inviting farmers to help teach programs.
Assist farmers with information searches by
referral: Extension and other agency staff who
cannot answer a farmer’s question should be able
to refer the farmer to another person or expert who
can. Dairy farm women suggested that Extension
educators can help farmers who are attempting to
solve a problem or redesign features on farm (e.g.,
install a new milking parlor, work with different
bedding materials, improve calf care) by referring
them to other farmers in the region who have
successfully navigated similar problems or redesign.
Improve websites: Websites for Extension and
otheragenciesthatservefarmersshouldbereviewed
for ease of use. Extension publications are difficult
to find through search engines; professional web
designers should identify ways to improve how
Extension documents are retrieved by search
engines.
Encourage participation in programs for farm
women: Although women farmers did not express
a common desire for informational programming
geared specifically to women, they did express a
need to gather and talk with other women farmers
to reduce their sense of isolation. There are many
successful programs for women farmers in
Wisconsin and neighboring states. We encourage
Extensionstaffandotheragencystafftomakethese
opportunities known to women farmers and to
increase their participation. Some of these
programs are: Heart of the Farm (UW-Extension),
Annie’s Project (UW-Extension), Gathering Circles
(WI Rural Women’s Initiative), Connecting Threads
Conference (WI Department of Agriculture, Trade,
and Consumer Protection WIDATCP), Rural
Women’s Project (Midwest Organic Sustainable
Educational Service MOSES), Wisconsin Farmers
Union Leadership Retreat, and the Iowa-based
Women, Food and Agriculture Network.
Briefing 2
Wisconsin Women Farmers: Conservation Practices, Information
Gathering, and Opportunities for UW - Extension