As women continue to play an increasingly significant role in American agriculture, Wyoming stands out as one of the states leading this shift, Wyoming News Now reports.
According to recent data from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), women make up 41.2% of all agricultural producers in Wyoming, the 11th highest percentage in the nation.
The data, analyzed by food and beverage software provider Trace One, highlights the steady rise of female involvement in farming across the United States. Nationally, women now account for 36.3% of all farm producers—individuals actively making decisions about farming operations. This marks a notable increase from previous years, as the share of female farmers has risen consistently since 2002.
The USDA data reveals that Wyoming has a total of 8,313 female producers and 7,428 female-operated farms, meaning 70.4% of all farms in the state are run by women. Over the past decade, the number of female producers in Wyoming has increased by 23.2%, while female-operated farms have grown by 15.5%.
Compared to the national averages, Wyoming’s numbers are well above the norm. Across the US, women manage 58.4% of farms and have seen a 26.3% increase in representation over the last decade.
The data also reveals that female farmers are more likely to be involved in certain types of agriculture. Women are particularly concentrated in livestock operations with smaller animals, specialty crops, and greenhouse production. In contrast, they are less represented in large-scale commodity farming, such as oilseeds, grains, and tobacco.
Western states, including Wyoming, have some of the highest percentages of female farmers in the country. Arizona leads the nation with 47.9% of its agricultural producers being women, followed closely by Alaska (47.6%) and Oregon (44.0%). These states tend to have a greater proportion of smaller farms and diversified operations, which may provide more opportunities for female involvement.
Meanwhile, Midwestern states such as Illinois (28.0%), North Dakota (29.9%), and Minnesota (31.0%) have the lowest percentages of female farmers. These regions are dominated by large-scale commodity farming, which has historically had lower female participation rates.
