Unveiling Stressors for Women Farmers in Iowa

By Andi Anderson

Farming, an age-old profession, poses unique challenges for Iowa's women farmers. In response, a groundbreaking tool, the Women Farmer Stress Inventory, has been developed by University of Iowa researchers to uncover and address these stressors.

A recent Iowa State University study highlighted the significant role women landowners play, constituting 47% of farmland owners and managing 46% of Iowa's agricultural acres. Despite this, women have long been overlooked in educational materials, a gap now bridged by Carly Nichols, Assistant Professor of Geographical and Sustainability Sciences.

Collaborating with Jonathan Davis, a Research Assistant Professor of Occupational and Environmental Health, Nichols designed the Women Farmer Stress Inventory. This innovative tool examines stressors affecting female agricultural workers and landowners, identifying five key factors: time pressures, environmental concerns, external pressures from governments and markets, interpersonal relationships, and rural amenities.

The study, based on responses from 592 Iowa women farmers, revealed critical insights. With the average age of Iowa farmers on the rise, the impending farmland transition underscores the need to retain more farmers on the land. Younger farmers and those with off-farm jobs experience heightened stress, particularly around external factors like government policies and market dynamics. Access to health insurance emerges as a significant concern, potentially pushing women into full-time off-farm jobs and exacerbating time stress.

Nichols emphasizes the urgency for policymakers to address these stressors, preventing further farmland consolidation. It is crucial to ensure that individuals remain committed to cultivating their land rather than opting to rent to neighbors.

In essence, the Women Farmer Stress Inventory acts as a compass, guiding stakeholders towards sustainable, stress-free farming practices that empower and retain women in agriculture. Actively supporting these endeavors will shape the future of Iowa's farming landscape.

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