A recent National Farm Families Childcare Survey, covering 860 farm households with children under 18 in 47 states during the winter of 2023, provides a clear picture of how farm families juggle childcare, safety and the bottom line.
Safety concerns dominate
Nearly two‑thirds of respondents (62%) said they worry about a child being injured on the farm at least sometimes. The data underscore the close connection between supervision, childcare arrangements and farm safety.
Childcare drives business decisions
More than three‑quarters of those surveyed (77%) reported making changes to balance childcare and work responsibilities. Adjustments include reducing work hours or leaving off‑farm or on‑farm employment, showing how childcare directly influences farm business decisions and household finances.
Key research topics
The study is broken into five briefs that explore: childcare and schooling arrangements; childcare decisions and family well‑being; children and farm safety; children and farm household finances and business decisions; and farm parents’ perspectives on solutions that could help them manage personal and professional responsibilities.
Expert perspective
“These briefs show that childcare is not just a family issue. It is connected to farm safety, business viability, household finances and family well‑being,” said Florence Becot, Ph.D., project director and the Nationwide Insurance Early Career Professor in Agricultural Safety and Health at Pennsylvania State University. “By better understanding the realities farm families face, we can identify opportunities to support both their families and their farm businesses.”
Funding and support
The project began in 2020 as part of the National Center for Construction Research and Safety (NCCRAHS). Funding comes from NCCRAHS through a grant from the CDC/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, as well as financial support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Nationwide Insurance Endowment in the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, and the Miller Endowment at the Marshfield Clinic Research Institute.
Policy implications
Findings arrive as policymakers at federal, state and community levels increasingly recognize childcare as a factor that affects workforce participation, recruitment and retention in agriculture. The briefs suggest that solutions—such as expanded childcare options, flexible work schedules and safety training—could help farm families sustain both their children’s safety and the economic health of their farms.
Access the research
The full set of briefs is available through the project page at Marshfield Research. Stakeholders, from farm owners to local officials, are encouraged to review the findings and consider how to strengthen support for farm families across the nation.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
