Kerissa and Charlie Payne, young farmers from Central Ohio, are raising their two daughters on their family land, Covey Rise. While their business has thrived, finding quality and affordable child care has proved challenging. The issue of child care in the farming sector has remained largely invisible despite being the largest child care crisis in the country. Farm parents, who are also working parents, must balance child care responsibilities with one of the most dangerous and stressful jobs in America. Thankfully, there is a change on the horizon.

In a historic move, the American Farm Bureau and the National Farmers Union have included child care in their policy priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill. Conversations with policymakers suggest potential bipartisan support for increased access to affordable and quality child care for rural families.

Over the past decade, rural researchers have conducted interviews and surveys with thousands of farmers across the country to understand the impact of child care on farm business viability, farm safety, quality of life for farm families, and the future of the nation’s food supply. Their findings debunk three common myths that have overshadowed child care in farm policy debates, while also highlighting potential solutions to support farm parents.

Firstly, the myth that child care is not a problem in the farm sector is easily debunked by statistics. 77% of farm families with children under 18 face difficulties securing child care due to affordability, availability, or quality issues and nearly half of these families recognize that affordable child care is vital for maintaining and expanding their businesses. Research consistently demonstrates that child care affects all aspects of agriculture, regardless of farm size, production system, or location.

Secondly, the assumption that farmers do not want or need help with child care is false. While some may have family members nearby who can assist, almost half of surveyed farmers stated that their own parents were too busy, deceased, or burdened by health challenges to provide child care support. Many farm parents have had to relocate away from family and friends in search of affordable land, making it harder to find community support in caring for their children.

Lastly, the belief that children can simply accompany their parents during farm work is refuted. Farms can be hazardous environments featuring large equipment, electric fencing, animals, and bodies of water. Tragically, agriculture related incidents lead to 33 serious injuries to children daily, with a child dying on a farm every three days. Farm parents constantly weigh the risks and benefits of involving their children in farm activities, but the dangers are undeniable.

To address these challenges, farmers have proposed various measures such as free or affordable quality child care, before and after school programs, improved parental leave policies, financial support for safe play areas on farms, college debt relief, free college tuition, and more affordable health insurance. One example of proactive action is the establishment of Appleseed Childhood Education, a nonprofit organization in Indiana co-founded by corn and soybean farmer Adam Alson. This organization creates care and education opportunities for children from birth to high school, with the support of both public and private sectors. Alson recognizes that investing in child care is essential for attracting and retaining young farmers and families, and sees it as a strategy to foster growth and sustain the rural workforce.

Farmers across the country express the urgent need for help with child care, emphasizing that if America desires to have farmers, farm families must receive the necessary support.