Women are active advocates for agriculture and successful business owners interested in filling leadership roles, according to a new Farm Bureau survey.

A majority of those surveyed, 91%, also believe there should be more women in industry leadership roles. More than 3,000 women completed the survey, conducted to determine goals and achievements of women in agriculture.

“Women play a vital role in modern farming and ranching,” said Sherry Saylor, an Arizona farmer and chair of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Women’s Leadership Committee. “We hope to use the survey results to drive our program of work and also to give women their voice and help them make even more of an impact in their communities.”

Over half of women surveyed have started their own business that’s still in operation; 25% have not started a business but indicated they would like to. Respondents cited prioritizing and finding time to accomplish tasks, acquiring financial support and marketing plan development as challenges.

Respondents ranked communicating effectively, inspiring and motivating others, and managing conflict among the most important leadership skills.

Seventy-five percent of those surveyed are local leaders, 50% are statewide and 26% serve nationally.

All women who are farmers, ranchers, farm/ranch employees, employed in agricultural businesses, pursuing ag-related higher education or supportive of agriculture in other ways were invited to participate.

Find full results at fb.org/women.