At its July 1980 meeting, the Executive Board of the American Agricultural Economics Association authorized formation of an ad hoc committee to investigate systematically the status, role, and opportunities for women in agricultural economics. A survey of females and wales in the profession, including but not limited to, members of AAEA, was undertaken. Because of the small number of women in agricultural economics (e.g., membership lists indicate that women comprise less than 5 percent of the AAEA), all women who could be identified in agricultural economics or related specialties were included in the survey. A sample of the much larger population of male economists was selected.