Pictured: Sen. Ernst (right) during a visit to an organic farm in Van Buren County
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) joined her colleagues in a recent resolution designating 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, highlighting the role of women in agriculture. Ernst, who serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee, says, “Having grown up on a family farm, I understand how women are the backbone of American agriculture. Whether hearing firsthand from female farmers on my River-to-River tour or on the Senate ag committee, it’s inspiring to see ladies stepping up and carrying on our great rural traditions. I’m proud to designate 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer to honor and recognize the 1.2 million female producers that work hard every day to feed and fuel our nation.” According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 58 percent of all U.S. farms had at least one female producer. Those operations account for 41 percent of the nation’s total agricultural sales and 46 percent of total U.S. farmland. In 2022, farms with one or more female producers generated $222 billion in agricultural products.
