Researchers explored farm women's economic contributions to the family farm--an economic contribution traditionally underestimated or ignored--employing use value production as an indicator of labor. Active labor, usually defined as commodity production, was broadened to include value production, or all activity contributing to making a living. Household and farm task performance was measured (controlling for time of season and size and type of operation), comparataive labor inputs were investigated, and off-farm employment motives and earnings were explored. Questionnaires returned in 1983 by 88 farm families in the eastern half of North Dakota provided data. Women were found to contribute more labor to farm tasks in the fall, on smaller farms, and on livestock farms, contributing at least 40 hours a week on the average to farm tasks. Women also performed 80% of the household tasks which consumed 80 hours a week on the average. Nearly one in three women reported off-farm employment; non-farm expenses and maintaining their careers were major reasons given. Distance and lack of available employment were found to pose the most difficulties for farm women in off-farm employment. Tables and figures present survey data by farm size and type and illustrate off-farm employment; an appendix lists farm and household tasks used in the survey. A short list of references concludes the document. (LFL)