The "Women in Agriculture Act" establishes a Women Farmers and Ranchers Liaison within the Department of Agriculture, promotes research and development of ergonomically designed agricultural equipment for women, and prioritizes childcare services in agricultural communities through loans and grants.
Teresa Leger Fernandez
Representative
NM-3
The "Women in Agriculture Act" establishes a Women Farmers and Ranchers Liaison within the Department of Agriculture to advocate for and assist women in agriculture. The act also amends existing legislation to include ergonomic equipment for women in agriculture research and prioritizes childcare services in agricultural and rural communities for loans and grants. Finally, the act requires the Liaison to submit a public report on the grants, loans, loan guarantees, and cost-share programs made by the Secretary to woman-owned agriculture operations.
New Bill Creates USDA Liaison for Women Farmers, Funds Better Tools, and Boosts Rural Childcare
This legislation, the "Women in Agriculture Act," sets up new support systems within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) aimed specifically at women farmers and ranchers. The core of the bill involves creating a dedicated point person, funding research for better-suited equipment, and prioritizing childcare development in rural areas.
A Go-To Person at the USDA
Within 120 days of the bill becoming law, the USDA will establish a "Women Farmers and Ranchers Liaison." Think of this person as an in-house guide and advocate. Their job description includes helping women navigate the often-complex web of USDA programs, assisting with applications, and generally championing the interests of women farmers within the department. The Liaison is also tasked with promoting women into leadership roles at the USDA and will publicly report each year on how grants, loans, and other funding are distributed, specifically tracking what percentage goes to women-owned operations (Sec. 2). This reporting aims to bring transparency to how resources are allocated.
Tools That Fit the Job
Farming is physically demanding, and equipment isn't always designed with everyone in mind. This act recognizes that by amending existing law to specifically allow federal research and extension grants to focus on developing and sharing information about ergonomically designed farm equipment and machinery suited for women (Sec. 3). The goal is to support the creation of tools that are safer and more efficient for female operators.
Helping Out with Childcare
Finding reliable and affordable childcare can be a major hurdle, especially in rural communities. The bill addresses this by tweaking the rules for certain USDA rural development loans and grants (Sec. 4). Going forward, applications aiming to improve the availability, quality, or affordability of childcare in agricultural or rural areas will receive priority consideration. This could mean more support for building new daycare centers, expanding existing ones, or initiatives to make childcare more affordable for farming families.