A larger number of women working in agriculture is associated with greater community well-being. That’s the finding of a study coauthored by Steve Deller, professor and extension specialist in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics.

According to the research, the first-ever qualitative assessment of this link, U.S. counties with a higher share of farms owned or operated by women have lower poverty rates, higher life expectancies, and higher rates of entrepreneurship outside of agriculture. These effects also spill over into neighboring counties. The study was published in January 2024 in Applied Economics Perspectives and Policies.

This article was posted in Economic and Community Development, Health and Wellness and tagged agricultural and applied economics, community well-being, Steve Deller, women farmers.