Need for and feasibility of designing, producing and marketing agricultural tools & equipment for women

The number of female farmers in the U.S. is on the rise, indicating a need for agricultural equipment that is safe and easy to use for women. Between 1997 and 2002, the total number of U.S. farms declined by almost 4%, yet the number of farms whose principal operators were women increased by 13%. Between 2002 and 2007, the number of farms run by women increased by an even larger 29%, compared with a modest gain of 3.6% for all U.S. farms. Trends in farm ownership have led USDA to predict that as many as 75% of U.S. farms will be owned or co-owned by women by the year 2014. Nonetheless, virtually all agricultural tools and equipment are designed for men. The need for women to have tools and equipment designed for them becomes apparent when considering differences between women's and men's bodies. On average, females have 40% to 75% less upper-body strength and 5% to 30% less lower-body strength than men. Women also tend to be shorter than men and to have more adipose tissue, narrower shoulders, wider hips and proportionally shorter legs and arms. Women's grips tend to be smaller than men's. In addition to affecting how comfortable and easy it is for women to use traditionally designed tools, some of these anatomical and physiological differences may place women at risk for farm injuries, according to several authors. One example is musculoskeletal injuries, which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says can be reduced through the redesign of tools using the principles of ergonomics. Nursing researcher Carrie McCoy, Ph.D. and colleagues, meanwhile, have urged that in light of women's increasing presence in agriculture, "engineering research . . . be conducted to design machinery and equipment that is ergonomically appropriate for smaller body frames." Because women's farms tend to be smaller - 53.5% were 1-49 acres in 2007, with the greatest increase over 2002 being in farms of 1-9 acres - the most useful tools and equipment are likely to be hand tools and smaller mechanized equipment such as rototillers and small tractors. This conclusion is supported by survey data gathered by the applicant. Despite all the information cited above, a thorough review of agricultural databases and other sources failed to yield evidence of any projects in the U.S. or other industrialized nations to adapt or design equipment for women's use. Only in India have efforts been made to adapt some farm tools for women. Green Heron Tools, LLC, is proposing to design agricultural tools and equipment based on women's unique anatomical and physiological characteristics, incorporating the latest principles of ergonomic design, use of state-of-the-art materials, and women's own perspectives on what they want and need. Women's use of technologically improved tools and equipment is expected to lead to increased productivity, a reduced incidence of agriculturally related injuries and disabilities, improved quality of life, and enhanced viability of farming for women. To date, the project has been supported by women's farming and/or sustainable agriculture organizations in 10 states.