SC farmers and agriculture leaders discuss need for equity within the industry

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - South Carolina farmers and agriculture leaders came together to shine a light on the need for equity in the female agriculture industry.

The National Women in Agriculture Association, or NWIAA, hosted a women in agriculture roundtable equity brunch Friday afternoon in North Charleston.

The NWIAA is a non-profit based out of Oklahoma City that has chapters located across the United States. The organization offers programming that educates women and the youth about agriculture and the sustainable opportunities within the industry. As well as resources such as free, fresh produce from their community garden.

The founder and director of the National Women in Agriculture Association, Dr. Tammy Gray-Steele, has made it her mission to push for equal opportunities and resources for women farmers and future generations in underserved communities.

Gray-Steele has been making her rounds to different states across the country trying to create awareness. Her goal is to be able to have a conversation with President Joe Biden and his administration before his term is up, addressing the issues of poverty and food insecurity within this minority community.

“When you have an organization like ours that has chapters all across the United States, we are the largest, and we keep growing because women are crying out, asking for assistance, equity, resources, to help maintain their farm,” she said.

Another one of her goals is to get support from President Biden on becoming the first Black congressionally chartered organization. She said if they were chartered this would provide them with sustainable federal funding.

“That’s another solution that we know equity could be had. If we don’t receive, or become chartered, then there will never be equity,” she said. “Well, how does that work? He would give us an executive order, send it back to Congress to get it voted on and then history is made for women once again, women and children.”

Gray-Steele said that the introduction of the Empowering Women in Agriculture Act to the U.S. House was a big milestone for them.

“In the actual agriculture industry, which is a male dominant industry, the funds are actually allocated to not groups like ours, specifically being a majority of minority women farmers. We are trying to make sure that in this administration or whenever the farm bill is passed there is some set aside funding for women farmers,” she said.

One South Carolina farmer, Yvonne Knight Carter, said she has been tree farming for years.

“Being a woman in agriculture I’m going to say, it’s a learning curve to it. You know, you can’t do it all yourself so a part of it is getting the right people to help you, hiring good, reliable help to help on the farm as well,” Carter said.

Gray-Steele said she is hoping to get support from South Carolina leaders, specifically naming Congressman Jim Clyburn, to try and arrange a meeting with him to see if he can help them set up one with President Biden.

If you’re interested in supporting the NWIAA, you can find more information here.