15 States Leading the Rise of Female Farmers

Happy women farmers smiling while working inside a greenhouse. — AlessandroBiascioli / Shutterstock.com

Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on Trace One.

A quiet transformation is unfolding in American agriculture. Female farmers are taking on a larger role in shaping the future of farming, contributing to both local economies and national food production.

Recent data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture reveals a steady rise in the number of women involved in farm decision-making and management.

From small family farms to large commercial operations, women are increasingly present in agricultural leadership. As this shift continues, certain parts of the country stand out for having a higher concentration of female farmers.

This ranking by Trace One lists the states where women are making the biggest impact in agriculture. Learn more about the methodology at the end.

15. Vermont

Female producers as a share of total: 40.7%
Female-operated farms as a share of total: 70.4%
10-year change in female producers: +8.0%
10-year change in female-operated farms: +4.1%
Total female producers: 5,077
Total female-operated farms: 4,603
Total producers: 12,470
Total farms: 6,537

14. Colorado

Highlands Ranch, Colorado — Corey Carrico / Shutterstock.com

Female producers as a share of total: 40.9%
Female-operated farms as a share of total: 69.4%
10-year change in female producers: +29.4%
10-year change in female-operated farms: +23.5%
Total female producers: 27,746
Total female-operated farms: 25,007
Total producers: 67,852
Total farms: 36,056

13. Florida

Aerial view of Florida farmlands with rows of orange grove trees growing on a sunny day — Bilanol / Shutterstock.com

Female producers as a share of total: 41.0%
Female-operated farms as a share of total: 65.2%
10-year change in female producers: +24.3%
10-year change in female-operated farms: +18.4%
Total female producers: 32,472
Total female-operated farms: 29,127
Total producers: 79,253
Total farms: 44,703

12. Connecticut

Bishop's Orchards market and farm store. Fruit Growers since 1871. Guilford, Connecticut, USA. — Rachel Rose Boucher / Shutterstock.com

Female producers as a share of total: 41.1%
Female-operated farms as a share of total: 66.2%
10-year change in female producers: +3.2%
10-year change in female-operated farms: -0.2%
Total female producers: 3,854
Total female-operated farms: 3,349
Total producers: 9,374
Total farms: 5,058

11. Wyoming

Hay bale in a farm field in Wyoming. Mountains in the background. — Martina Birnbaum / Shutterstock.com

Female producers as a share of total: 41.2%
Female-operated farms as a share of total: 70.4%
10-year change in female producers: +23.2%
10-year change in female-operated farms: +15.5%
Total female producers: 8,313
Total female-operated farms: 7,428
Total producers: 20,192
Total farms: 10,544

10. Washington

Snohomish Valley farms in the fall in Washington — Kyle_Graff / Shutterstock.com

Female producers as a share of total: 42.1%
Female-operated farms as a share of total: 70.9%
10-year change in female producers: +13.9%
10-year change in female-operated farms: +7.0%
Total female producers: 25,477
Total female-operated farms: 22,747
Total producers: 60,453
Total farms: 32,076

9. Nevada

Barn in Nevada flat lands — SNEHIT PHOTO / Shutterstock.com

Female producers as a share of total: 42.7%
Female-operated farms as a share of total: 71.1%
10-year change in female producers: -7.7%
10-year change in female-operated farms: -11.3%
Total female producers: 2,435
Total female-operated farms: 2,220
Total producers: 5,708
Total farms: 3,122

8. Massachusetts

Red farm buildings in Massachusetts beside a pond. — Myshutterlens / Shutterstock.com

Female producers as a share of total: 42.8%
Female-operated farms as a share of total: 68.7%
10-year change in female producers: +12.0%
10-year change in female-operated farms: +5.9%
Total female producers: 5,691
Total female-operated farms: 4,868
Total producers: 13,284
Total farms: 7,083

7. Rhode Island

White picket fence along Route 77 in Sakonnet, Rhode Island — Joseph Sohm / Shutterstock.com

Female producers as a share of total: 42.9%
Female-operated farms as a share of total: 68.7%
10-year change in female producers: +9.2%
10-year change in female-operated farms: +3.7%
Total female producers: 832
Total female-operated farms: 724
Total producers: 1,938
Total farms: 1,054

6. Hawaii

Farmland on the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii — Kelly Headrick / Shutterstock.com

Female producers as a share of total: 43.0%
Female-operated farms as a share of total: 68.1%
10-year change in female producers: +33.8%
10-year change in female-operated farms: +25.2%
Total female producers: 5,094
Total female-operated farms: 4,473
Total producers: 11,833
Total farms: 6,569

5. Maine

Welcome to Maine sign — Paul Brady Photography / Shutterstock.com

Female producers as a share of total: 43.1%
Female-operated farms as a share of total: 71.6%
10-year change in female producers: +4.3%
10-year change in female-operated farms: -0.6%
Total female producers: 5,628
Total female-operated farms: 5,041
Total producers: 13,053
Total farms: 7,036

4. Oregon

Mount Hood in Clackamas County, Oregon — Thye-Wee Gn / Shutterstock.com

Female producers as a share of total: 44.0%
Female-operated farms as a share of total: 76.2%
10-year change in female producers: +32.4%
10-year change in female-operated farms: +25.6%
Total female producers: 30,150
Total female-operated farms: 27,100
Total producers: 68,564
Total farms: 35,547

3. New Hampshire

New Hampshire Maple Weekend in Lyndeborough. Syrup producers open their shacks to the public on Maple Weekend. — Andrew Cline / Shutterstock.com

Female producers as a share of total: 44.8%
Female-operated farms as a share of total: 73.6%
10-year change in female producers: +5.8%
10-year change in female-operated farms: +2.5%
Total female producers: 3,230
Total female-operated farms: 2,907
Total producers: 7,209
Total farms: 3,949

2. Alaska

Mountain view in Alaska — Jiri Vlach / Shutterstock.com

Female producers as a share of total: 47.6%
Female-operated farms as a share of total: 73.8%
10-year change in female producers: +89.5%
10-year change in female-operated farms: +82.7%
Total female producers: 974
Total female-operated farms: 866
Total producers: 2,045
Total farms: 1,173

1. Arizona

Vineyard and winery in Willcox, Arizona — Filion_Photo / Shutterstock.com

Female producers as a share of total: 47.9%
Female-operated farms as a share of total: 71.6%
10-year change in female producers: -4.9%
10-year change in female-operated farms: -8.6%
Total female producers: 13,936
Total female-operated farms: 11,972
Total producers: 29,100
Total farms: 16,710

Methodology

Business Data Analyst — Andrey_Popov / Shutterstock.com

The data in this study was sourced from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Census of Agriculture, specifically the most recent 2022 edition, which was released in 2024.

Researchers at Trace One analyzed the data to determine the states with the highest representation of female farmers. This was measured in two ways: the proportion of total agricultural producers who are women and the percentage of farms classified as female-operated.

According to the USDA, a producer is defined as any individual actively involved in making decisions for a farming operation. A female-operated farm, meanwhile, is one in which at least one producer is a woman.

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