Photo Credit: Zoe Schaeffer from Unsplash

JANUARY 2021

Farming is a dangerous and physically demanding job no matter your gender or body type. Even though women are very capable of running farming equipment, they find themselves at a disadvantage when it comes to these tools. Built with a taller, stronger male farmer in mind, most farming equipment presents a higher risk of injury for women.

According to the USDA’s most recent Census of Agriculture, about 36% of all farmers are female, a statistic that continues to grow. Coining the term “hergonomics”, female farmers are championing the creation of farm tools that are ergonomically designed with their bodies in mind. These tools can often work better for male farmers as well.

In this article, Harvest Public Media’s Dana Cronin explores the difficulties women face when using farming equipment and the initiatives they’re taking to make their jobs just a little bit easier.