WHEREAS, the United Nations General Assembly has declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, recognizing the vital role women play in agriculture, food production, and sustaining rural economies worldwide; and
WHEREAS, this designation provides an opportunity to highlight and celebrate the essential contributions of women in agriculture, raise awareness about the challenges they face – including access to land, credit, training, and technology – and encourage policies and investments that empower women farmers; and
WHEREAS, organizations such as the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) and its members are championing the International Year of the Woman Farmer to uplift, equip, connect, and recognize women farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness professionals across the United States; and
WHEREAS, according to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, women represent approximately 43 percent of all agricultural producers in Maine, a higher share than the national average, demonstrating the strong and growing leadership of women across Maine’s farms and agricultural enterprises; and
WHEREAS, women farmers in Maine not only cultivate the land but also contribute to innovation, entrepreneurship, conservation, leadership in food systems, agricultural education, and community resilience; and
WHEREAS, Maine’s agricultural sector is a diverse and dynamic part of the State’s economy, contributing more than $3.6 billion annually, employing tens of thousands of people, encompassing over one million acres of agricultural land, and preserving rural heritage, food security, local jobs, and community well-being;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that I, Janet T. Mills, Governor of the State of Maine, do hereby proclaim 2026 as
The International Year of the Woman Farmer
throughout the State of Maine, and I encourage all residents, agricultural partners, public agencies, educational institutions, and communities throughout Maine to join in recognizing and supporting the leadership, ingenuity, and indispensable role of women in agriculture.
In testimony whereof, I have caused the Great Seal of the State to be hereunto affixed GIVEN under my hand at Augusta this seventh day of January Two Thousand Twenty-Six
