1. Arkansas’ Women in Agriculture: Changing Challenges and Growing Opportunities Jennie Popp Center for Agricultural and Rural Sustainability Division of Agriculture University of Arkansas National Women in Agriculture Conference April 1-2, 2008 Oklahoma City, OK

2. Background

3. Characteristics of Arkansas’ Women in Agriculture Women’s roles on the farm are increasing in numbers and in responsibilities  Women are 28.6% of Arkansas farm operators  25% of these women are principal operators  Their numbers are increasing every year Source: USDA 2002 Census of Agriculture Farm women are also increasingly working off of the farm  Nationally, 30% of farm women worked off farm in 1969; by 2002, 47% of them nationally worked off farm  By 2002 that number in Arkansas was 46% Sources: The Invisible Farmers: Women in Agricultural Production by Carolyn Sachs, USDA 2002 Census of Agriculture Women hold many roles in agriculture off farm  Working in agricultural support industries  Working in rural and community development organizations Sources: The Entrepreneurial Characteristics of Farm Women by B. Tanner, Women and Farming: Changing Roles, Changing Structures by W. Haney and J. Knowles

4. Why the Changes? Similar to reasons why women all around the nation are becoming more involved in agriculture, by:  Inheritance  Divorce  Illness  CHOICE Nationally, agriculture-related degrees given to females - more than doubled from 1993 to 2000, Source: USDA REEIS Total FAEIS Degrees Awarded by Classification of Instructional Program and Gender Between 1997 and 2005, the agriculturally related degrees (ignoring HESC) earned by women increased 52% Sources University of Arkansas Institutional Research In Arkansas and elsewhere, agriculturally related education programs are acknowledging this fast growing clientele.

5. Education Programs for Women in Agriculture Prerequisites to effective education programs – understandings of  the knowledge  the needs and  the experience of the education program participants. In Arkansas, educational program development included taking assessments of participants of the 2005-2007 Arkansas Women in Agriculture conferences Surveys were used to identify  recent changes in their roles on and off the farm,  the challenges they face in their businesses  and factors important to achieving success, as they define it This is the first such data set on agricultural women in Arkansas

6. Objectives Provide selected summary results from these surveys Test for differences in survey responses between types of agricultural women and across years. Identify educational needs and opportunities for a growing clientele of agricultural women

7. Methods

8. The 752 female participants of the 2005-2007 Arkansas Women in Agriculture Conferences were asked to complete a survey* The response rates were  55% (147 of 269) in 2005  36% (108 of 300) in 2006, and  49% (89 of 183) in 2007 Respondents placed into two groups  Agriculture business owners (ABOs) – women who owned or jointly operated a farm, ranch or agriculturally-related business (ag banks, input suppliers, vet medicine, ag organizations, etc)  Agriculture business employees (ABEs) – women who were employees of farms/ranch and agriculturally-related businesses *2008 conference participants recently surveyed but data not yet analyzed

9. Methods Survey questions related to  their type of business,  their role in the business and  how changes in that role impacted various aspects of their home and business  how important certain factors are to their career success,  the challenges they face Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used to test for significant differences (p=0.10) in responses across years and between ABO and ABE groups Follow up focus groups used to explain responses (13 conducted over three year period, each group averaged 10 people, 6 of whom had completed surveys) Selected results follow

10. Results

11. Characteristics of Survey Respondents 2005-2007 Of the 344 survey respondents, 210 were ABOs.  16% considered themselves principal operators.  33% believed they had a greater role in the business today than they did three years ago.  72% would probably or definitely continue to run the business if something happen to their business or domestic partner.

12. Characteristics of Survey Respondents 2005-2007 The remaining 134 women were ABEs working for:  Lending institutions  Input suppliers  Farm organizations  Educational institutions (and their work was agricultural – related)

13. Which Factors are Important in Measuring Your Success? 11 Options I can talents and skills directly I feel secure in my employment I can make key decisions I can meet current financial needs I can try new ways of doing things I can participate in environmental conservation programs (ag and non-ag) I am excited about my work I have flexible work hours I can balance my work and free time I can be involved in my community I improve my standard of living I can pass on the business to a family member I can provide jobs for my community

14. Factors 200520062007 ABOABEPrABOABEPrABOABEPr apply talents and skills87.497.80.045187.794.10.272778.6100.0.0376 secure in my employment67.988.60.131872.394.10.045278.691.30.1565 try new ways81.291.10.366381.097.00.132465.990.90.0348 excited about work86.289.10.037684.187.90.852580.582.60.9800 flexible work hours82.880.90.479469.856.30.069468.356.50.6481 improve standard of living77.491.30.376673.078.80.819065.995.50.0022 pass on the business79.318.6 <0.000 1 65.616.1<0.000163.425.00.0233 provide jobs58.827.90.009450.042.40.548942.527.30.5484 Higher percentage of ABEs measure success by black factors Higher percentage of ABOs measure success by red factors Opnions of ABOs and ABEs are different for results in blue

15. Which areas represent challenges for you in your business? 13 options Networking with others Finding good information about BMPs for my business Finding information about government programs related to my work Qualifying for government programs related to my business Knowing where/how to market my products Keeping up with environmental regulations regarding my business Keeping financial records Finding/affording a good lawyer Keeping good employees Handling my cash flow Gaining access to credit Completing loan forms and other important paperwork Being respected as a female business person

16. Factors 200520062007 ABOABEPrABOABEPrABOABEPr Info about govt programs37.417.20.045232.222.70.782130.022.70.4313 qualifying for govt program33.717.90.003940.723.80.042341.021.10.3361 marketing products30.614.30.294528.813.60.069125.620.00.9570 environmental regulations40.025.00.397633.914.30.177825.030.00.7504 keeping financial records41.414.80.161433.917.40.055825.040.00.4705 finding/keeping a lawyer42.429.60.194034.522.70.394235.015.80.2637 keeping good employees48.825.00.037451.713.60.018443.635.00.0708 being respected41.237.90.490239.036.40.242832.547.60.7546 Higher percentage of ABOs have problems all factors above Opinions of ABOs and ABEs are different for results in blue Relatively small percentage of women overall have problems in these areas Being respected as a female business person is one of the most often reported problems

17. Differences Across Time Results were tested for significant differences across time Few significant differences emerged  The percentage of ABOs that had problems keeping financial records and being respected both fell between 2005 and 2007  The percentage of ABEs that agreed meeting current financial needs was important increased over time  Across all respondents, the importance of having flexible work hours decreased over time

19. Explaining the Results

20. Arkansas’ Agricultural Women are Motivated  ABOs have confidence through education and experience to lead agricultural operations on and off the farm  Many ABEs expect to become leaders in their respective farm and non-farm agricultural operations in the future

21. Explaining the Results Arkansas’ Agricultural Women are Community Minded  Many ABOs put community before profit; business driven by desire to provide community jobs and agricultural experiences for youth  Nearly 70% of respondents were members of at least one community organization and provided their ag-related expertise to community on a volunteer basis

22. Explaining the Results Arkansas’ Agricultural Women Can Work in Traditional Man’s World  Business culture is changing Agribusinesses (particularly lenders and equipment dealers) more comfortable working with ABOs In part this is because more women are the agribusiness personnel dealers  Networks for ABOs and ABEs emerging However, not all areas of agriculture are transforming at the same rate

23. Explaining the Results Arkansas’ Agricultural Women Want Agricultural- Related Business Assistance  Demand Annie’s Project in State First three classes will complete the course by May 2008  Demand Active Educational Program Efforts led by Arkansas Women in Agriculture, Inc. and assisted by University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service

24. Conclusions Women’s Roles include more responsibilities including leadership and decision-making Data suggests that needs vary from different groups of women at different points in time ABOs and ABEs share some problems in business, as well as factors important to them, but also differ because of backgrounds Further research on women in agriculture is needed, especially at different times, to explore, more in depth, their needs and roles

25. What’s Next We’ve only just begun! Expanded efforts on Arkansas’ Women in Agriculture research Comprehensive cataloging of research on women in agriculture around the nation Identification of womens’ needs, challenges and opportunities nationwide that will drive research and education programs into the future

26. Acknowledgements A special thank you goes to Ms. Carmen Albright, 2007 University of Arkansas graduate who conducted much of the analysis as her undergraduate thesis research.

27. Thank You For more information, contact: Jennie Popp University of Arkansas 217 Agriculture Building Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479)575-2279 jhpopp@uark.edu