By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio — According to 2007 agriculture census data released Feb. 4, the number of farms in Ohio has decreased by 2.5 percent since 2002 to 75,861. The market value of each farm acre has increased to $3,528, up from $2,732. And the average age of farm operators is now 55.7, up from 53.8.

As one might guess, farm expenses have increased dramatically, as has the number of layers, beef cows and dairy cows in this state.
But making the biggest jump over that five-year period is the number of women who have become principal operators on these Ohio farms. That number jumped 19 percent. There were 9,127 women serving as their farm’s principal operators, up from 7,660 in 2002.

Marcie Williams, president of American Agri-Women and a member of Ohio Agri-Women, isn’t surprised by the increased figures.

“A lot of it is due to the increased number of women who are returning to the farm,” Williams said. “They’ve worked in the larger cities, have become tired of that life, and want to come back to the farm. Most of these women find a small acreage out in the country where they can grow their own vegetables and produce for themselves and others.”

Among the women considered by principal operators of farms, the number who consider farming their primary occupation fell from 3,906 to 3,518 over that five-year period, suggesting their farm operations are small.

“Here at American Agri-Women we’re finding that the daughters have gone to school, obtained their degree, and returned to the farm,” Williams said. “And we’re discovering that these same ladies are taking over the duties of operating the farm. A lot of it has to do with the death of the spouse and she’s taken over the operation of the farm. A lot of times it is just easier for the wife to stay home and do the work on the farm rather than work off the farm.”

Licking County leads the state with 226 principal operators as women. Highland County is second with 225 while Ashtabula County is third with 222.

“Nowadays it’s so much easier for women to do the physical farming operation with the tractors and other equipment available,” Williams said. “With the modern machinery they don’t have to lug the big bags of feed and do all the hard physical work that was required 20 years ago.”

Peggy Clark, president of Ohio Agri-Women attributes some of the increase to horse farms, many of which are headed by women, and a growing number of women who are niche farmers, supplementing their family’s income by raising chickens, selling eggs or raising fruits and vegetables at farm markets.

Joe Cornely, spokesman for the Ohio Farm Bureau, believes the numbers may reflect the  evolving nature of farming, with more opportunities for farmers to sell their products directly to consumers. This, he says, may attract women in particular. Cornely even sees an increase in women taking leadership roles within the Farm Bureau.

Many county extension agents surveyed believe those numbers will increase over the next five years and will show up in the 2012 census. The message is out that farming is no longer just a man’s occupation.

“In a survey of local FFA chapters in and around the Columbus area, seven of eight members are female,” Williams said. “We at American Agri-Women have attended the last three National FFA Conventions and we let the girls know there’s an organization they can be a part of.”