Can North Carolina small rural farms succeed equally? Quantifying racial and gender disparities in acres, markets, and incomes

While small rural farms have long been the foundation of the United States' agricultural landscape, the historic context of gender and racial disparities within this sector has been understudied. This study aims to illuminate gender and racial disparities among small rural farms in North Carolina across operated acres, owned acres, market access, and farm income. Uncovering these dimensions provides valuable insights to promote equity in agricultural development. Using data from North Carolina small farms, we employ the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition with Recentered Influence Functions to analyze the extent and sources of disparities. We find four key results. First, White-operated farms have 161% more land, are 2.88 miles closer to markets, and earn $174,000 more than Black-operated farms annually. Second, male-operated farms have 150% more acres and $126,000 higher gross income versus female-operated farms. Third, racial and gender disparities are most pronounced at higher ends of farm size and income distributions. Additionally, disparities stem from endowment and structural effects, with structural factors more prevalent at higher outcome levels. To address such disparities, policymakers should implement targeted initiatives to improve education, market access, and outreach for minority and women farmers while also reforming systems to dismantle structural barriers and enable equitable prosperity. Shedding light on racial and gender inequality is imperative for cultivating an inclusive, just food system where all small rural farmers can succeed.