Women are shattering dairy’s glass ceiling, but the industry’s gender gap persists. Discover how female leaders are reshaping the future of milk production.
As International Women’s Day 2025 approaches, a powerful transformation is reshaping the dairy landscape. This transformation challenges century-old perceptions and proves that milk isn’t the only thing flowing through modern dairy operations. Behind milking parlors and research laboratories nationwide, women are not just participating in dairy farming—they’re redefining it.
The latest statistics from the IDFA’s 2025 State of Women in the Dairy report reveal that more than half (54%) of women are actively asking for promotions compared to 47% of men, and 62% of those women successfully earn them—on par with their male counterparts. Yet these statistics only begin to tell the story of how women’s leadership, innovation, and persistence are fundamentally altering an industry that has historically overlooked their contributions.
The Silent Force Behind Dairy’s Success: Women’s Hidden History
The perception of dairy farming as exclusively male territory has persisted despite women’s omnipresence throughout agricultural history. Today’s reality shatters this outdated image as women step from behind-the-scenes roles into recognized leadership and innovation positions. The transformation is remarkable not because women are newly arriving in dairy but because their long-standing contributions are finally receiving acknowledgment.
This historical oversight continues despite striking evidence to the contrary. According to the IDFA’s comprehensive 2025 survey of 608 industry professionals—including 519 women and 89 men—63% of women expressed satisfaction with their opportunities for career advancement. Furthermore, half of female respondents across generations acknowledge having access to programs designed to foster career growth and retention. These statistics reveal that women aren’t merely surviving in dairy—they’re increasingly finding pathways to thrive.
The question we must confront is stark: If women increasingly take charge of their careers and succeed, why do nearly half (48%) still believe they have fewer advancement opportunities than their male counterparts? This disconnect between progress and persistent barriers reveals how deeply entrenched gender assumptions remain in agricultural sectors, including dairy.
Leadership Revolution: Female Trailblazers Reshaping Dairy’s Future
The rise of women to leadership positions represents one of the most significant disruptions to traditional dairy industry power structures in decades. The IDFA’s groundbreaking research confirms this trajectory toward leadership: more than half (54%) of women reported asking for promotions compared to 47% of men, with 62% of those women saying they received those promotions—a rate equal to men.
Becky Rasdall Vargas, senior vice president at IDFA and leader of the Women in Dairy initiative, has been at the forefront of measuring and addressing gender equality in the industry. The survey, conducted between October 16 and November 7, 2024, provides the most comprehensive picture of women’s experiences across the dairy sector.
These leadership inroads become even more apparent when considering the broader implications for industry innovation and competitiveness. The 2025 report reveals that dairy companies are increasingly investing to support women, yet disparities continue to impact job satisfaction and retention, particularly for women in frontline roles. This gap between institutional commitments and on-the-ground experiences raises a provocative question: What transformative innovations are we missing when barriers prevent qualified women from reaching their full potential?
Tech Transformation: How Innovation is Leveling the Dairy Playing Field
Perhaps nowhere is the gender landscape shifting more dramatically than in technologically advanced dairy operations. Automation is rendering physical strength increasingly irrelevant and creating unprecedented opportunities for women producers. From robotics to automated milking systems, technology, and data are helping create a more rewarding life on the farm for today’s female dairy farmers.
What’s most revolutionary about this technological shift is it’s rendering outdated gender assumptions obsolete. When robotic milking systems, automated feeding technology, and data-driven herd management become standard, the question becomes not whether women can handle dairy farming but why their unique perspectives weren’t more central to the industry’s development.
As farms increasingly run on brainpower rather than just physical labor, women’s capabilities in problem-solving, animal health management, and operational efficiency emerge as competitive advantages. As highlighted at the IDFA annual Dairy Forum in San Antonio this January, business success requires “a group of diverse and capable people,” even in artificial intelligence and automation.
The International Dairy Foods Association has focused on six key areas impacting gender equality: treatment, compensation, mentorship and support, opportunities for advancement, factors in recruiting and retention, and discrimination policies and gender equality goals. This holistic approach recognizes that technological advancement must be paired with cultural evolution to create genuinely inclusive workplaces where all talent can thrive.
Profit & Progress: The Business Case for Women’s Leadership
The business case for women’s leadership in dairy extends far beyond equity—it’s about profitability and sustainability in an increasingly competitive global market. While historical barriers have limited women’s advancement, new data reveals how gender diversity drives financial performance and innovation throughout the dairy supply chain.
Gender Comparison: By the Numbers
| Metric | Women | Men |
| Asked for promotions | 54% | 47% |
| Received promotions when asked | 62% | 62% |
| Believe gender negatively impacts pay | 55% | 5% |
| Believe they have fewer advancement opportunities | 48% | N/A |
The IDFA’s 2025 State of Women in Dairy report offers compelling evidence that women’s leadership capabilities remain underutilized despite clear benefits. The survey found that gender inequalities persist in the dairy sector. Nearly half of women (48%) believe they have fewer advancement opportunities than their male counterparts, and the gender pay gap remains a significant concern.
Fifty-five percent of women reported that gender negatively influences their compensation, compared to only 5% of men. This pay gap doesn’t just affect individual women—it represents a strategic vulnerability for an industry that cannot afford to undervalue talent in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.
These findings align with broader research from the previous year, which confirmed that women in the dairy industry report feeling overlooked, undervalued, and underpaid. Despite growing awareness, the persistence of these challenges suggests that systemic change requires more than surface-level commitments to diversity and inclusion.
Networks of Change: Programs Accelerating Women’s Success
The growth of dedicated networks supporting women in dairy has dramatically accelerated progress toward gender equality in the industry. The International Dairy Foods Association’s (IDFA) Women in Dairy network stands as a prominent example, working to improve gender equality within the U.S. dairy sector through data-based metrics and tools, C-suite engagement, and fostering networking and professional and leadership development.
Becky Rasdall Vargas, IDFA Senior Vice President of Trade and Workforce Policy, leads these efforts, including mentoring circles, professional development webinars, and networking events. This comprehensive approach recognizes that advancing women in dairy requires individual development and systemic change.
The latest findings from the 2025 report reveal both progress and persistent challenges. While 63% of women expressed satisfaction with their opportunities for career advancement, the gender pay gap remains a significant concern. Similarly, while half of female respondents acknowledge having access to professional development programs, nearly half (48%) still believe they have fewer advancement opportunities than their male counterparts.
What makes these networks truly revolutionary is their systemic approach. Rather than focusing solely on helping individual women navigate existing structures, they’re gathering data, creating benchmarks, and holding the industry accountable for measurable progress. This strategic approach transforms what could be dismissed as “women’s issues” into industry-wide imperatives for competitiveness and growth.
Persistent Roadblocks: What’s Still Holding Women Back?
Despite remarkable progress, women in dairy continue facing systemic barriers that limit both individual advancement and industry innovation. The 2025 IDFA survey reveals that gender inequalities persist in the dairy sector. Nearly half of women (48%) believe they have fewer advancement opportunities than their male counterparts, and 55% of women reported that their gender negatively influences their compensation.
The Generational & Workplace Divide
| Demographic | Key Findings |
| Gen Z & Millennial Women | 41% believe gender will make career advancement harder |
| Gen Z & Millennial Women | Cite career advancement as major concern for retention |
| Female Frontline Workers | 29% have left jobs due to lack of opportunities |
| Female Frontline Workers | Face unique challenges in processing plants and farms |
The generational divide highlighted in the 2025 report is particularly concerning, with 41% of Gen Z and Millennial women believing it will be harder to advance due to their gender. This perception threatens the industry’s ability to attract and retain the next generation of female talent.
Similarly, the report reveals that 29% of female frontline employees have left jobs due to lacking opportunities. These findings reflect persistent structural challenges rather than individual limitations.
The gender pay gap represents a significant hurdle that has shown slight improvement. The 2025 data confirms this remains a pressing issue, with 55% of women reporting that their gender negatively influences their compensation, compared to only 5% of men. This stark contrast in perception underscores how differently men and women experience the same workplace environments.
Breaking New Ground: Dairy’s Female-Powered Future
As we look toward the remainder of 2025 and beyond, the implications of women’s increasing leadership in dairy will fundamentally reshape the industry’s trajectory. Having broken through initial barriers to participation and recognition, women are now positioned to drive transformative change in areas ranging from sustainability practices to consumer engagement and technological innovation.
The IDFA’s comprehensive research from 2025 provides a roadmap for continued progress. The fact that 54% of women are now actively asking for promotions compared to 47% of men, with 62% of those women successfully earning the promotion, indicates a growing confidence and assertiveness among women in the industry.
However, the persistence of the gender pay gap and the fact that nearly half (48%) of women still believe they have fewer advancement opportunities than their male counterparts indicates that significant work remains. As IDFA continues its work through the Women in Dairy initiative, its approach of using data-based metrics and tools, C-suite engagement, and fostering networking and professional and leadership development offers a promising framework for continued progress.
The findings presented at the Dairy Forum 2025 in San Antonio this January make clear that creating a “people-first culture” is essential for “a strong dairy future.” As the industry continues to navigate challenges from automation to market pressures, leveraging the entire talent pool—regardless of gender—will be crucial for maintaining competitive advantage.
Conclusion: The Unfinished Revolution
The dairy industry is at a pivotal juncture—where women’s increasing influence, leadership, and innovation are fundamentally reshaping its trajectory. The statistics from the IDFA’s comprehensive 2025 research are unequivocal: 54% of women are actively asking for promotions compared to 47% of men, with 62% successfully earning them; yet 48% still believe they have fewer advancement opportunities than their male counterparts and a concerning 55% report that their gender negatively influences their compensation compared to only 5% of men.
These numbers tell a story of remarkable progress and persistent challenges—a reflection of an industry in transformation rather than one that has completed its journey toward gender equality. The IDFA’s 2025 State of Women in Dairy Report, based on a survey of 608 industry professionals conducted between October 16 and November 7, 2024, provides the most comprehensive picture to date of advancements made and remaining barriers.
As International Women’s Day 2025 approaches, the dairy industry would be wise to recognize that women’s advancement isn’t merely a matter of equity—it’s an economic and strategic imperative. The glass milking parlor is cracking if not yet entirely shattered. The question is no longer whether women can lead in dairy but how quickly the industry will transform to fully leverage the talent, perspective, and innovation that women have always brought to agriculture.
Key takeaways:
- 54% of women in dairy are asking for promotions, with a 62% success rate equal to men, indicating growing assertiveness and recognition of women’s capabilities.
- A significant gender perception gap exists, with 55% of women believing their gender negatively impacts pay, compared to only 5% of men.
- Technological advancements create new opportunities for women in dairy, but cultural and systemic barriers hinder full equality.
- Gen Z and Millennial women face unique challenges, with 41% believing their gender will make career advancement harder.
- Industry initiatives like IDFA’s Women in Dairy network are crucial in driving progress, but data shows persistent inequalities require continued focus and action.
Executive Summary:
The dairy industry is experiencing a significant transformation as women take on increasingly prominent roles in leadership and innovation. The IDFA’s 2025 State of Women in Dairy report reveals progress and persistent challenges. While 54% of women actively seek promotions, with a 62% success rate matching their male counterparts, nearly half still perceive fewer advancement opportunities. The gender pay gap remains a critical issue, with 55% of women believing their gender negatively impacts compensation. Technological advancements level the playing field, but cultural barriers persist, particularly for younger women and frontline workers. Industry initiatives like IDFA’s Women in Dairy network drive change, but the data suggests that achieving true gender equality in dairy requires ongoing commitment and systemic transformation.
Learn more:
- Are Dairy Boards ‘Closed’ to Women?
- Trailblazing Women in Dairy: Jackie Klippenstein Awarded 2024 DGN Leading Impact Honor
- Meet The Farm Babe: How Michelle Miller is Transforming the Public’s View on Agriculture
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