The lack of documentation of women's farm work makes it difficult to assess women's contributions to farm businesses. A survey of farm women in western Canada showed that while younger women were more likely to have a farm work role, they also saw more barriers to farm work than older women. Variations in women's farm work may be a result of cohort differences in socialization for farm work, of farm cycle, or of family cycle. Incorporation of off-farm and household work into the analysis of women's contributions to the farm business is suggested as a more comprehensive method of assessing their work involvement.