Suchergebnisse

AbstractWomen farmers comprise a significant, increasing portion of the U.S. farm operator population, yet information on women farmers and the farms they manage is limited. Data from a thirteen‐state survey offered a unique opportunity to compare male and female farmers who operate large commercial farms. The survey sample included 2,888 farmers; of these, 112 (4%) were women. The purpose of this study was to identify differences and similarities associated with the gender of the principal farm decision maker of commercial farms in terms of operator characteristics, farm characteristics, farm financial performance, and record keeping and computer use. Significant differences were found in education level, type of farms operated, total acreage farmed, land tenure position, and financial performance. The results of this study are contrasted with those of previous studies that compared male and female farmers but did not distinguish farmers according to the size or type of farm operated. Farm size and type seem to explain some of the differences between farms operated by male and female farmers that have been attributed to gender.