A first-of-its-kind study on childcare challenges facing farm families is helping to influence policy solutions in rural communities.
Project director of the National Farm Families Childcare Survey Florence Becot says three-quarters of farm parents experienced barriers accessing care in the past five years, mostly because of cost and availability.
“What was really interesting is the complexity that many parents, not one of them, but many farm parents are faced with,” she says.
Nearly 60 percent of families are bringing children to work on the farm because of a lack of alternatives.
“Feedback ranges from, well, we love having the kids around, and we want them to learn about farming, we want them to be exposed,” she shares. “In some instances, people said, well, we need the help. And then in other instances, they said, well, we don’t really have other good options.”
Becot says nearly 80 percent of farm parents said they are modifying work to be caretakers and often scaling back operations or farm investments.
She indicates that there’s not one silver bullet for solving childcare issues and parents want a variety of solutions.
“The number one solution that people wanted was affordable health insurance, over three-fourths of people said that would be helpful or very helpful,” she says.
She says many farm families are faced with leaving an off-farm job to stay home with the children because care isn’t accessible or are job-locked into a position working elsewhere because they can’t afford to lose healthcare benefits.
Becot says the results have helped shape more childcare provisions in farm bills currently under consideration and rural development policy across the U.S.
Case studies in Ohio and Wisconsin in the project found childcare costs for infants averaged up to $10,000 annually in 2019. Childcare deserts, or populations with three children for every one licensed spot available, were present across more than half of Wisconsin communities during that time, and in nearly 40 percent of Ohio communities.
The 2026 Market Rate Survey in Wisconsin reported that the average annual cost for full-time infant care is now $17,400 in center-based programs.
The national average cost is nearly $15,000 in 2026, according to the U.S. National Database of Childcare Prices.
EDITOR’S TAKE:
Rural America often faces unique challenges. It is not unique that young parents often struggle with affordable options for childcare, especially when both parents are employed. What is unique is access in rural areas. Farm families may be located several miles from the nearest childcare facility if one is available at all. Also, something not mentioned in the article, often times even grandparents are not available to offer assistance because they are involved in the farm or ranch operation. Hopefully this research will start a more serious conversation that eventually leads to solutions for this very real problem.
In the meantime, maybe the farm/ranch family needs a new SUV or truck so they can take the family to sporting events, church or other errands. Put your inventory on AgTruckTrader.com®. Also, promote AgPack®. Why? AgPack offers special rebates and discounts on items like jeans, boots, hats and other items they can use. It’s not just for tires and fertilizer on the farm – check it out and use it to your advantage when making a sale to that farm/ranch purchaser.
