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Sinéad Conroy, Hereford cattle farmer, Rathcroghan, Tulsk, Co Roscommon.\ David Ruffles
A farmer is a farmer irrelevant of their gender and the idea that women are physically not able to farm is outdated, Dr Maura Farrell of NUIG has said.
Dr Farrell told the Irish Farmers Journal that the National Rural Network (NRN) and NUIG have done work in relation to women in Irish agriculture and this week the NRN launched a new video series about women in agriculture.
Data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) shows that of the 265,400 people who worked on farms in 2016, over a quarter were female (71,700). However, less than one quarter (16,100) of these females were holders of the farms on which they worked.
“From my own research it’s obvious that we have a very dominant male culture in agriculture. With that in mind in the last number of years there has been some very strong women, leading innovation ideas in agriculture.
“It was suggested we try and do something ourselves to promote and celebrate women in agriculture.
“The idea of it being a physical job that women are not able to physically do it, is outdated.
“There are more innovations in farming which means less physical work is needed for males and females.
“Ten or 15 years ago, the term female farmer was around. It was almost like an insult. A farmer is a farmer, irrelevant of gender.
“Women want to be seen as farmers, we don’t say female doctors or female solicitors – a farmer is a farmer.”
Handing over the farm
Traditionally, Dr Farrell said that Ireland was tied to handing over the farm to a man in the family or the oldest son.
“We need to move on from this. It’s outdated, we need to put that behind us. That day is gone – farms should be handed over for the best person [for the job],” she said, adding that there are plenty of barriers to young farmers.
Women want to be seen as farmers, we don’t say female doctors or female solicitors – a farmer is a farmer
“To farm you need access to land, if you’re not getting the farm from a family member, you’re renting or leasing. That can be difficult enough,” she said.
Video series
The new video series promotes strong women in farming.
“The more we see women doing the day-to-day jobs, the more it becomes the mainstay.
“When you listen to these women, you forget about gender. If we change the language and rhetoric, we change the culture,” she said.
The first farmer in the series is Sinéad Conroy, a pedigree Hereford breeder from Roscommon. The 22-year-old farms at home and leases a 40ac farm herself.
“All my life I’ve been really interested in farming, grew up on the farm and it has definitely impacted the person I am today.
“My love for livestock started the week after my Communion when I purchased a suck calf in Castlerea Mart and from then I increased that every year,” she said.
A farmer is a farmer irrelevant of their gender and the idea that women are physically not able to farm is outdated, Dr Maura Farrell of NUIG has said.
Dr Farrell told the Irish Farmers Journal that the National Rural Network (NRN) and NUIG have done work in relation to women in Irish agriculture and this week the NRN launched a new video series about women in agriculture.
Data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) shows that of the 265,400 people who worked on farms in 2016, over a quarter were female (71,700). However, less than one quarter (16,100) of these females were holders of the farms on which they worked.
“From my own research it’s obvious that we have a very dominant male culture in agriculture. With that in mind in the last number of years there has been some very strong women, leading innovation ideas in agriculture.
“It was suggested we try and do something ourselves to promote and celebrate women in agriculture.
“The idea of it being a physical job that women are not able to physically do it, is outdated.
“There are more innovations in farming which means less physical work is needed for males and females.
“Ten or 15 years ago, the term female farmer was around. It was almost like an insult. A farmer is a farmer, irrelevant of gender.
“Women want to be seen as farmers, we don’t say female doctors or female solicitors – a farmer is a farmer.”
Handing over the farm
Traditionally, Dr Farrell said that Ireland was tied to handing over the farm to a man in the family or the oldest son.
“We need to move on from this. It’s outdated, we need to put that behind us. That day is gone – farms should be handed over for the best person [for the job],” she said, adding that there are plenty of barriers to young farmers.
Women want to be seen as farmers, we don’t say female doctors or female solicitors – a farmer is a farmer
“To farm you need access to land, if you’re not getting the farm from a family member, you’re renting or leasing. That can be difficult enough,” she said.
Video series
The new video series promotes strong women in farming.
“The more we see women doing the day-to-day jobs, the more it becomes the mainstay.
“When you listen to these women, you forget about gender. If we change the language and rhetoric, we change the culture,” she said.
The first farmer in the series is Sinéad Conroy, a pedigree Hereford breeder from Roscommon. The 22-year-old farms at home and leases a 40ac farm herself.
“All my life I’ve been really interested in farming, grew up on the farm and it has definitely impacted the person I am today.
“My love for livestock started the week after my Communion when I purchased a suck calf in Castlerea Mart and from then I increased that every year,” she said.
Teagasc, in collaboration with the Local Enterprise Office, announced the 2024 training programme at the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois.
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