By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The 1970s Virginia Slims cigarette slogan “You’ve come a long way, baby” was designed to appeal to the accomplishments of women. But when it comes to today’s agriculture standards, some experts say women have a long way to go.

“For many women, they’re undertaking farm responsibilities for the very first time,” says Julia Woodruff, Ohio State University extension educator from Erie County. “Many don’t know what fair land rent is, have no knowledge of building rental or they have questions about the FSA (Farm Service Agency) farm program or are confronted with financial management questions. They have a lot more to learn.”

Woodruff will address issues facing women in agriculture during this year’s Farm Science Review (FSR) Sept. 21-23 at the Molly Carren Agricultural Center in London, Ohio. Her presentation, “Women in Agriculture,” will be next Wednesday in the Firebaugh Building, starting at 11:45 a.m.

The presentation is an overview of extension programs for farm women. “My goal is to let women who are involved in agriculture, or who are thinking of becoming involved – whether through marriage or in other ways – learn about the programs OSU extension has to offer,” Woodruff said.

“And for everyone else, I hope that those who may not be familiar with the role women play on the farm, or maybe who never even stopped to think about it, will begin to appreciate it a bit more.”
Woodruff will assist women who want to become more comfortable with the business side of farming. She and other extension educators plan to share information about projects aimed at helping women in agriculture become more familiar with production risk, cash flow, crop insurance options and other business-related issues on the farm.

“Many times women on the farm have the responsibility of record-keeping, but they’re not really involved in the decision-making in the farm operation,” Woodruff said. “Obviously, they have a big stake in how the farm does economically. If they had more familiarity with the concepts of risk management, their insight could lead to better decisions on the farm and an improve financial outlook.

“Some women dig and continue to run the farm as it has been operating, others choose to assume the role of landowner and simply rent the farm ground to another farmer.”

According to the 2007 Ag Census, the number of women principal operators has increased by 30 percent across the nation.

“There are several reasons for that,” Woodruff said. “First, it’s the first time the census has asked for more than one principal operator to be listed. Second, more young women are coming back to the farm to make it their second career.

“Finally, many women are inheriting the farm and looking for ways to continue farming.”

According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), as of 2002 only about 5 percent of commercial farms in the United States were operated by women. Most of the farms they operate are small-scale, earning less than $50,000 annually.

Forty percent of Ohio farms have at least one woman operator. Women are principal operators on 9,127 operations, or 12 percent, of Ohio farms.

This topic and many other presentations from OSU and Purdue University specialists will top this year’s Farm Science Review, in its 48th year. More than 140,000 visitors from the U.S. and Canada will also be able to view 4,000 product lines from 600 commercial exhibitors.

“Farm Science Review is a great resource for farmers in Ohio, as well as surrounding states,” said FSR Manager Chuck Gamble. “This three-day event is home to countless programs, but our target audience has, and always will be, the farmer.”

FSR pre-show tickets are $5 and may be obtained at all OSU extension county offices. Tickets are also available at local agribusinesses. Tickets are $8 at the gate. Children 5 and younger are admitted free. Hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 21-22 and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 23.