Womens’ attention to detail is a major advantage to farms with great organisation and cleanliness around the yard, Cavan sheep farmer Daphne Scott said during the final instalment of the Women in Agriculture Video Series from the National Rural Network (NRN).

Daphne grew up on a dairy farm just outside Cavan town and at the age of 14 she established her own boarding kennels, now a thriving business called Precious Pets.

She explains: “Even though the business was going well, I wanted to complete my education. I studied dairy business at University College Dublin (UCD) and after a tenure with Grassland Agro, I returned to the farm in 2013.”

Daphne now runs a flock of 130 ewes, 20 of which are pedigree Hampshire Downs.

“While farming can be a very physical job, there are ways and means around reducing this,” says Daphne.

“A disadvantage women face is the classification of farming as a self-employed business, meaning that there are no maternity benefits or cover for women, unlike in other occupations.”

Challenge perceptions

Commenting on the video series, lead researcher with the NRN and rural geographer at NUI Galway Dr Maura Farrell said: “These videos challenge traditional perceptions of women in Irish farming.

“The women in these videos are highly innovative, resilient and dedicated to farming, similar to many other women on farms across Ireland.”

The complete Women in Agriculture Video Series can be viewed here.

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Watch: ‘Womens’ attention to detail is a major advantage to farms’

The final instalment of the Women in Agriculture Video Series from the National Rural Network (NRN) is now available.