The United Nations is recognizing 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. Virginia has a lot of female farmers, according to the latest data from the US Department of Agriculture. The 2022 Ag Census placed the specific number at 25,237 female farmers, about a third of whom are full-time in their farming occupation. The average age of a woman farmer in Virginia is 58.6.

By age group, Virginia has:

* 375 female farmers under the age of 25

* 1,529 female farmers between 25 and 34

* 3,041 female farmers between 35 and 44

* 3,748 femake farmers between 45 and 54

* 6,974 female farmers between 55 and 64

* 6,198 female farmers between 65 and 74

* 3,372 female farmers aged 75 and older

USDA stats on Virginia female farmers (2022). | Image source: USDA.

A USDA news release states, “women are responsible for roughly half of the world’s food production.” The news release went on to say that 2026 will be “an unprecedented opportunity to underscore – and to address – the myriad social and economic challenges that women in agriculture face worldwide.”

Numerous Virginia organizations are expected to join in the activities planned for 2026.