North American Women and Their Children:

 Valuable Resources in Food Production


 Harriet K. Light
 Child Development and Family Relations
 North Dakota State University
 Fargo, North Dakota

 The production of the world's food supply is a complex pro- As agricultui
cess involving technical skills and human resources. While tional skills w
often thought of as a male's occupation, agriculture has pro- computers, ana
fited from the work contributions of women. This paper operations. The
reports the results of a study designed to determine the current do require time
work role of women and their children in agricultural produc- tributions to ag
tion in North Dakota, U.S.A. Results indicate that women The integrate
and children make significant contributions through various with physical f
types of farm work. Furthermore, women are increasingly greatly to the in
seeking employment off the farm in order to earn the income and manageme
that will allow the family to continue farming during difficult
financial times.


 Doris Hertsgaard
Mathematical Sciences


ral technologies become more complex, addi-
ill be required to manage finances, utilize
alyze market information, and program farm
ese skills do not require physical strength, but
and energy. Women can make significant con-
griculture by performance of these skills.
on of technological skills performed by women
arm work performed by men will contribute
creased effectiveness of agricultural production
.nt.


 Today only 3% of the population in the United States live on
farms. However, over 20% of the world's grains are produced on
United States farms, and North America accounts for 20% of the
global production of meat (United States Department of
Agriculture, 1984; Winrock International, 1983). Recent research
has confirmed the significant contributions of contemporary
women to this agricultural production (Axinn, 1982; Heffernan
et al., 1981). This paper will present a review of the literature
related to specific contributions of farm women and their
children to agricultural production in the United States and will
present the results of a study to determine the role of women on
farms in North Dakota, an agricultural state in the United States.

The Work of Farm Women
 Traditionally, farming has been regarded almost exclusively as
a male enterprise (Coughenour and Swanson, 1983). However,
the idea that farming is a partnership between husband and wife
has existed for some time. While women's work has been exten-
sive, women have been, and continue to be, the silent partners.
Perhaps one reason for this is that agricultural production has
often been thought of as only field work. However, a multitude
of other tasks, frequently performed by women, are associated
with both crop and animal production. For instance, activities
necessary for crop production include providing personal services
for workers (e.g., preparing meals); processing agricultural pro-
ducts; transporting, storing, and marketing the grains; and haul-
ing seed, fertilizer, and equipment parts for farm machinery.
Among the activities associated with animal production are care
and feeding, milking, shearing sheep, gathering eggs and
marketing of animals and/or their by-products. All of these ac-
tivities, which are frequently performed by women, must be
taken into account when analyzing the labor in farm production
(Deer and deLeal, 1981).
 Further evidence of women's significant role in agriculture is
given by Maret and Copp (1982) who stated the average value of
products sold is up to three times greater when the wife is directly
involved in agricultural labor. The extent of women's involve-
ment in farm work was reported by Scholl (1983). Drawing her


192


data from the 1980 National Farm Women Survey, Scholl stated
that 55% of the women who were surveyed considered
themselves to be one of the main operators of their farms. Almost
60% of the married women reported they could run the farm
operation if necessary without their husbands.


Women Who Subsidize Agriculture
 In spite of the value of the economic contribution of women to
the farming operation, farm women have entered the labor force
at a much higher rate than their urban counterparts. The paid
labor force participation rate of farm women increased 400% bet-
ween 1930 and 1980 (Scholl, 1983). The majority of these women
are employed to earn money for farm-related expenses. Off-farm
employment is often necessary to subsidize low net farm income
and add capital to the farm operation.


Decision Making
 According to research on decision making of farm families,
husbands assumed the major role in decisions related to farm
operations, e.g., crops to plant, fertilizer purchases, and brand of
machinery. Joint decisions between husband and wife were more
likely to occur in borrowing money, buying and renting land, and
buying major farm equipment (Sachs, 1984). Most studies con-
clude that women's decision making role is limited in highly suc-
cessful farm operations. As high technology farming increases, it
is likely that women will have less impact on critical decisions
(Sachs, 1984).


The Work of Children on Farms
 Historical records confirm the extensive and important role of
children on United States farms (Drache, 1970; Stratton, 1981).
Recent studies indicate that farm children continue to make
significant work contributions (White and Brinkerhoff, 1981).
Additionally, farm families are less likely to distinguish between
the work of male and female children in farm-related tasks.

 PROCEEDINGS of the CARIBBEAN FOOD CROPS SOCIETY-VOL. XX