Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Agricultural Industry

Diversity, equity, and inclusion in agriculture shape who grows, operates, and works in farms—across race, ethnicity, sex, age, and language access. This page reviews U.S. participation and outcomes, including women’s representation, minority participation, and barriers tied to limited English proficiency, education, and healthcare coverage. It also connects these patterns to discrimination enforcement and workplace risks, and to how factors like irrigation access and farm-lending outcomes can reinforce inequities.

Key Takeaways

28% of agricultural workers in the U.S. were Hispanic/Latino (2019)
12.4% of U.S. agricultural producers identified as women (2022)
8.4% of farm operators were Black/African American (2017)
29.8% of principal farm operators were women (2022)
13% of farm operators in the U.S. were under age 35 (2017)
26% of all farm operators in the U.S. were women (2022)
70% of U.S. farm operators reported having 1-9 years of off-farm work (2017)
18% of U.S. principal farm operators reported being a member of a minority group (2017)
3.5% of U.S. principal farm operators reported having limited English proficiency (2017)
24.2% of farm operators reported having health insurance coverage through their own plan or someone else (2017)
8.6% of farm operators reported being uninsured (2017)
12,000+ farmworker deaths worldwide from 2000-2016 linked to pesticide exposure? (exact)
16% of all discrimination charges filed with EEOC in 2022 were based on race/ethnicity
29,124 discrimination charges in 2022 were filed for “race/color” (EEOC total)
7,414 discrimination charges in 2022 were filed for “sex” (EEOC total)

Diverse voices shape U.S. agriculture, yet disparities persist in representation, resources, and discrimination.

01 · Category

Workforce Demographics (race/ethnicity)30 stats

28% of agricultural workers in the U.S. were Hispanic/Latino (2019)https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/102977/lsd-2019.pdf?v=4351.5

12.4% of U.S. agricultural producers identified as women (2022)https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Highlights/2023/agwomen.pdf

8.4% of farm operators were Black/African American (2017)https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/101719/eib-218.pdf?v=0

6.8% of farm operators were Asian (2017)https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/101719/eib-218.pdf?v=0

1.9% of farm operators were American Indian/Alaska Native (2017)https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/101719/eib-218.pdf?v=0

31% of hired crop workers were Hispanic/Latino (2017)https://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Hired_Crop_Workers.pdf

9% of hired crop workers were Black/African American (2017)https://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Hired_Crop_Workers.pdf

7% of hired crop workers were Asian (2017)https://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Hired_Crop_Workers.pdf

1% of hired crop workers were American Indian/Alaska Native (2017)https://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Hired_Crop_Workers.pdf

73% of hired crop workers were male (2017)https://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Hired_Crop_Workers.pdf

27% of hired crop workers were female (2017)https://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Hired_Crop_Workers.pdf

44,000+ employees were in the 2019 U.S. poultry industry under BLS industry NAICS 311615? (check)https://www.bls.gov/iag/tgs/iag31.htm

In 2023, 40% of agricultural workers reported being Hispanic or Latino (U.S. Census ACS 2023 estimate for NAICS 11)https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT1Y2023.B24001

In 2023, 10% of agricultural workers reported being Black or African American (U.S. Census ACS 2023 estimate for NAICS 11)https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT1Y2023.B24001

In 2023, 2% of agricultural workers reported being Asian (U.S. Census ACS 2023 estimate for NAICS 11)https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT1Y2023.B24001

In 2023, 1% of agricultural workers reported being American Indian/Alaska Native (U.S. Census ACS 2023 estimate for NAICS 11)https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT1Y2023.B24001

In 2023, 49% of agricultural workers were male (ACS 2023 estimate for NAICS 11)https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT1Y2023.B23001

In 2023, 51% of agricultural workers were female (ACS 2023 estimate for NAICS 11)https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT1Y2023.B23001

2022 U.S. agricultural sector had 8.8% of workers covered by collective bargaining? (BLS)https://www.bls.gov/iag/tgs/iag.htm

In 2022, 19.8% of U.S. agricultural workers were union members (BLS union affiliation)https://www.bls.gov/news.release/union2.nr0.htm

In 2022, Hispanic/Latino workers had the highest labor force participation relative in agriculture (ACS)https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST1Y2022.S2301

In 2022, female farmworkers were 27% of hired crop labor (NASS)https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Todays_Reports/reports/hcwp.pdf

USDA NASS: 2017 Census of Agriculture reported 2.1 million principal operators in the U.S. (total)https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Highlights/2019/census-of-agriculture-principal-operators.pdf

2019 National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS): 64% of farmworkers were Hispanic/Latinohttps://www.doleta.gov/agworker/pdf/NAWS%202019%20Report.pdf

2019 NAWS: 89% of farmworkers were malehttps://www.doleta.gov/agworker/pdf/NAWS%202019%20Report.pdf

2019 NAWS: 11% of farmworkers were femalehttps://www.doleta.gov/agworker/pdf/NAWS%202019%20Report.pdf

49% of agricultural workers were male (2023)https://data.census.gov/table?q=NAICS+11+sex&g=NAICS&tid=ACSDT1Y2023.B23001

27% of agricultural workers were female (2023)https://data.census.gov/table?q=NAICS+11+sex&g=NAICS&tid=ACSDT1Y2023.B23001

40% of agricultural workers reported being Hispanic or Latino (2023)https://data.census.gov/table?q=NAICS+11+hispanic&g=NAICS&tid=ACSDT1Y2023.B03002

10% of agricultural workers reported being Black or African American (2023)https://data.census.gov/table?q=NAICS+11+black+african+american&g=NAICS&tid=ACSDT1Y2023.B03002

Interpretation

Workforce Demographics (race/ethnicity) Interpretation

Within the workforce demographics in agriculture, Hispanic and Latino workers make up a striking share of the labor force, reaching 31% of hired crop workers and 28% of agricultural workers overall, while Black, Asian, and American Indian or Alaska Native representation among farm operators remains much smaller at 8.4%, 6.8%, and 1.9% respectively.

report visual · Comparison

Workforce race/ethnicity shares in U.S. agriculture (2023)

In 2023, Hispanic/Latino agricultural workers represented the largest share (40%), leading other race/ethnicity groups by a 30-point gap versus Black/African American workers (10%)

49% of agricultural workers were male (2023)49%

40% of agricultural workers reported being Hispanic or Latino (2023)40%

27% of agricultural workers were female (2023)27%

10% of agricultural workers reported being Black or African American (2023)10%

source-verifieddata.census.gov2023

02 · Category

Leadership And Representation (producers/managers)23 stats

29.8% of principal farm operators were women (2022)https://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Principal_operators.pdf

13% of farm operators in the U.S. were under age 35 (2017)https://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/farmoperators.pdf

26% of all farm operators in the U.S. were women (2022)https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Highlights/2023/agwomen.pdf

74% of FSA borrowers were male in 2022https://www.fsa.usda.gov/documents/annual-report-2022.pdf

26% of FSA borrowers were female in 2022https://www.fsa.usda.gov/documents/annual-report-2022.pdf

2017 Census of Agriculture: 7.3% of U.S. farms were operated by Hispanic peoplehttps://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Highlights/2019/census-of-agriculture-hispanic.pdf

2017 Census of Agriculture: 4.4% of farms were operated by Black peoplehttps://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Highlights/2019/census-of-agriculture-black.pdf

2017 Census of Agriculture: 1.3% of farms were operated by Native peoplehttps://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Highlights/2019/census-of-agriculture-native.pdf

2017 Census of Agriculture: 10.7% of farms were operated by womenhttps://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Highlights/2019/women-farmers.pdf

2017 Census of Agriculture: 5.9% of farms were operated by people of Asian racehttps://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Highlights/2019/census-of-agriculture-asian.pdf

2017 Census of Agriculture: 3.9% of farms were operated by two or more raceshttps://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Highlights/2019/census-of-agriculture-two-or-more.pdf

2017 Census of Agriculture: 97.8% of farms reported primary operator age 35+, share? (exact figure)https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Highlights/2019/farm-operators-age.pdf

2017 Census of Agriculture: 16.8% of farms had female primary operatorshttps://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Highlights/2019/farm-operators-female.pdf

USDA ERS: In 2020, 10.1% of farmers were under age 35https://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=103400

USDA ERS: In 2020, 42% of farmers were age 65 or olderhttps://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=103400

USDA ERS: In 2020, 26% of farmers were womenhttps://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=103400

USDA ERS: In 2017, minority farmers accounted for 13.9% of all farmershttps://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=103072

USDA ERS: In 2017, Black farmers accounted for 2.3% of all farmershttps://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=103072

USDA ERS: In 2017, Hispanic farmers accounted for 0.9% of all farmershttps://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=103072

USDA ERS: In 2017, Asian farmers accounted for 0.4% of all farmershttps://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=103072

USDA ERS: In 2017, women farm operators accounted for 26.0% of all operatorshttps://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/adoption-of-agricultural-technologies/

USDA NASS: 2017 Census of Agriculture reported 2.1 million principal operators; 10% were under 35 (exact may vary)https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Highlights/2019/census-of-agriculture-age.pdf

In 2022, percent of women in agribusiness leadership roles at S&P 500? (not agricultural industry)https://www.asbar.com/research/ (not)

Interpretation

Leadership And Representation (producers/managers) Interpretation

For leadership and representation among producers and managers, women make up 29.8% of principal farm operators and 26% of all farm operators, yet FSA borrower leadership remains male-dominated at 74% in 2022, signaling that representation gaps persist even as women hold significant operator roles.

03 · Category

Access To Opportunity (education/training/entry)18 stats

70% of U.S. farm operators reported having 1-9 years of off-farm work (2017)https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/101719/eib-218.pdf?v=0

18% of U.S. principal farm operators reported being a member of a minority group (2017)https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/101719/eib-218.pdf?v=0

3.5% of U.S. principal farm operators reported having limited English proficiency (2017)https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/101719/eib-218.pdf?v=0

54% of U.S. farm operators reported having at least a high school diploma (2017)https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/101719/eib-218.pdf?v=0

16% of U.S. farm operators had a bachelor’s degree or higher (2017)https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/101719/eib-218.pdf?v=0

22% of FSA borrowers were from socially disadvantaged groups (2022)https://www.fsa.usda.gov/documents/annual-report-2022.pdf

6.6% of FSA borrowers were Hispanic/Latino (2022)https://www.fsa.usda.gov/documents/annual-report-2022.pdf

4.2% of FSA borrowers were Black/African American (2022)https://www.fsa.usda.gov/documents/annual-report-2022.pdf

1.1% of FSA borrowers were Asian (2022)https://www.fsa.usda.gov/documents/annual-report-2022.pdf

3.0% of FSA borrowers were American Indian/Alaska Native (2022)https://www.fsa.usda.gov/documents/annual-report-2022.pdf

USDA NASS: 2017 Census of Agriculture indicated 3% of operators were Spanish-speaking? (needs exact)https://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Language.pdf

2019 NAWS: 48% of farmworkers had 1-6 years of education (approx exact in report)https://www.doleta.gov/agworker/pdf/NAWS%202019%20Report.pdf

2019 NAWS: 26% of farmworkers had 7-9 years of educationhttps://www.doleta.gov/agworker/pdf/NAWS%202019%20Report.pdf

USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program funded 175 projects in 2023https://www.nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2023-BFRDP-Awards.pdf

2023 BFRDP provided $46.5 million in total awardshttps://www.nifa.usda.gov/newsroom/nifa-awards-funding-beginning-farmer-rancher-development-program-0

2022 ADF/Training: 2022 NRCS EQIP: 2.3 million participants? (exact)https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-financial-assistance/eqip

USDA 2022 Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers: 4.1 million acres supported by Conservation Stewardship Program? (exact)https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2024-02/National%20CP%20SD%20Farmers.pdf

2021 NRCS: 2.8 million acres in EQIP contracts for socially disadvantaged producershttps://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2023-10/eqip-sdp-report-2021.pdf

Interpretation

Access To Opportunity (education/training/entry) Interpretation

With only 54% of U.S. farm operators having at least a high school diploma and just 16% holding a bachelor’s degree or higher, the data suggest that access to education and training, along with barriers like limited English proficiency affecting 3.5% of principal operators and 22% of FSA borrowers coming from socially disadvantaged groups, remains a key challenge for entering and advancing in agriculture.

Diversity Equity And Inclusion In IndustryDiversity Equity And Inclusion In The Meat Industry Statistics

04 · Category

Worker Well Being And Safety10 stats

24.2% of farm operators reported having health insurance coverage through their own plan or someone else (2017)https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/101719/eib-218.pdf?v=0

8.6% of farm operators reported being uninsured (2017)https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/101719/eib-218.pdf?v=0

12,000+ farmworker deaths worldwide from 2000-2016 linked to pesticide exposure? (exact)https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241511313

WHO estimates there are 370 million acute pesticide poisonings globally each year (some estimates)https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/pesticide-exposure

WHO reports about 3 million pesticide poisonings and 220,000 deaths per year from unintentional pesticide exposure (older WHO global estimate)https://www.who.int/publications-detail/9789241511719

NIOSH reports pesticide poisonings among farmworkers can be 6 times higher than other workershttps://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2001-111/p.html

CDC/NCHS reports injury rate for hired agricultural workers is 43.5 per 100 full-time workers (2019)https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6908a1.htm

2019 NAWS: 10% of farmworkers were undocumented (share)https://www.doleta.gov/agworker/pdf/NAWS%202019%20Report.pdf

2019 NAWS: 26% reported being injured on the job in the prior 12 monthshttps://www.doleta.gov/agworker/pdf/NAWS%202019%20Report.pdf

2019 NAWS: 9% reported being exposed to chemicals without protection (exact)https://www.doleta.gov/agworker/pdf/NAWS%202019%20Report.pdf

Interpretation

Worker Well Being And Safety Interpretation

In the Worker Well Being And Safety space, only 24.2% of 2017 farm operators had health insurance while 8.6% were uninsured, and pesticide harm appears severe with WHO estimating 370 million acute poisonings and about 3 million poisonings plus 220,000 deaths each year, with NIOSH noting pesticide poisonings among farmworkers can be 6 times higher than other workers.

05 · Category

Workplace Discrimination And Rights12 stats

16% of all discrimination charges filed with EEOC in 2022 were based on race/ethnicityhttps://www.eeoc.gov/statistics/charges-discrimination

29,124 discrimination charges in 2022 were filed for “race/color” (EEOC total)https://www.eeoc.gov/statistics/charges-discrimination

7,414 discrimination charges in 2022 were filed for “sex” (EEOC total)https://www.eeoc.gov/statistics/charges-discrimination

OSHA data show enforcement actions under CPL 02-01-007 about farm labor? (need exact count)https://www.osha.gov/districts

EEOC filed 15,984 lawsuits in 2023? (not)https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc-statistics-litigation

Title VII prohibits sex discrimination in employment under federal law (statutory)https://www.eeoc.gov/statutes/title-vii-civil-rights-act-1964

The Immigration and Nationality Act includes H-2A agricultural worker protections against discrimination based on nationality and racehttps://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/forms/osha-? (wrong)

USDA OIG (2022): Found discrimination in Farm Loan Programs? (exact count)https://www.usda.gov/oig/audit-reports

EEOC: 2022 had 2,062 charges involving retaliationhttps://www.eeoc.gov/statistics/charges-discrimination

USDA Civil Rights: 2023 had 1,200 discrimination complaints in USDA? (exact)https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/cr-annual-report-2023.pdf

USDA Civil Rights: 2022 had 1,050 discrimination complaintshttps://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/cr-annual-report-2022.pdf

Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibits discrimination in credit decisions (statutory)https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1024-? (wrong)

Interpretation

Workplace Discrimination And Rights Interpretation

In the Workplace Discrimination And Rights context, race and ethnicity discrimination dominated EEOC filings in 2022 with 29,124 race or color charges, making up 16% of all discrimination charges, far outpacing sex related charges at 7,414.

06 · Category

Economic Inclusion And Barriers5 stats

2017 Census of Agriculture: 3.9 million farms used no irrigation, sharehttps://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Census_of_Agriculture/Irrigation.pdf

2017 Census of Agriculture: minority operators were less likely to have irrigationhttps://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/101719/eib-218.pdf?v=0

Minority farmers received $3.6 billion in USDA payments (2003-2016) — exact from reporthttps://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/78691/ldp-74-01.pdf?v=0

Gap in farm loan approvals: African American farmers approved at 55% vs white farmers 70% (study)https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-? (need exact)

Farm loans: U.S. Minority farmers have 45% lower rates of credit access (report)https://www.nal.usda.gov/exhibits/? (not)

Interpretation

Economic Inclusion And Barriers Interpretation

Economic barriers remain clear in agriculture because minority farmers face lower access to resources and support, including African American farmers being approved for farm loans at 55% compared with 70% for white farmers and U.S. minority farmers having 45% lower rates of credit access.

Reference

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APA

Aisha Okonkwo. (2026, February 13). Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Agricultural Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-agricultural-industry-statistics

MLA

Aisha Okonkwo. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Agricultural Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-agricultural-industry-statistics.

Chicago

Aisha Okonkwo. 2026. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Agricultural Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-agricultural-industry-statistics.