A new study from the University of Georgia College of Public Health reveals the unique mental health challenges female farm owners and managers face. Through in-depth interviews, researchers found that women in agriculture experience stressors often overlooked, including animal mortality, succession planning, and navigating gender stereotypes.
Lead author Christina Proctor noted that women feel pressure to earn respect in male-dominated environments, while also grappling with emotional ties to animals and community perceptions. Many worry about being seen as “the woman who loses the farm” during generational transitions.
Gender expectations add further strain, with women balancing long farm hours alongside caregiving and household duties. Researchers emphasized the need for peer-to-peer support and leadership programs tailored to women.
Proctor believes that supporting female farmers can improve sustainability and community outcomes across agriculture.
“Right now, if it’s really hard for women to work in that sector, we need to ask ourselves, ‘How do we create programs or initiatives that ensure more women feel comfortable going into those spaces and represented within agricultural meetings, commodity meetings and more?" Proctor said.
The study was co-authored by UGA’s Noah Hopkins, Chase Reece, and Lauren Ledbetter Griffeth.
