Looking out my window this morning, the sky is grey and the radio just informed me that the weather will necessitate that the raingear and the wellies are the first things that go into the bag this evening when I pack for the Ploughing. Suffice to say, the weather this year continues to challenge us.

Last year at the Woman and Agriculture Conference, it was highlighted that there was a low level of female involvement in the executive council of the Irish Farmers’ Association. Since then, five woman have been elected as county chairs in the organisation. Although this is a positive development, more needs to be done and, in an effort to ensure greater diversity in the organisation into the future, IFA president Joe Healy has established a committee. The terms of reference are to ascertain what the barriers to involvement are and to make recommendations to break these barriers down. I have been asked to chair this committee.

To enable the committee to gather and assess baseline information, we have been carrying out a survey at the National Ploughing Championships this week. This questionnaire seeks to build a picture of the people who live and work on farms across Ireland, to provide recommendations on how best to support women in farming and increase women’s involvement in the Irish Farmers’ Association I am asking that farmers, male or female, full- or part-time, young and the not so young, participate in this survey, which can also be accessed here until 5 October.

Lack of diversity within agriculture is not an IFA issue alone, it is evident across our sector and many others. There is much evidence to support that gender diversity delivers improved business results and, for this reason, many organisations are trying to address the problem. Only last week, The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed launched the results of an agri-food industry survey into levels of diversity and inclusion in the sector, the first part of which is focused on woman in agribusiness. The survey, which was a partnership of the 30% Club, DAFM, the industry and led by Bord Bia and AON, revealed a consensus among senior leaders and employees that a combination of increased confidence, knowledge, skill and experience, and career self-management are critical to achieving gender diversity in the agri food sector.

There is much evidence to support that gender diversity delivers improved business results and, for this reason, many organisations are trying to address the problem.

Ploughing Championships

Today is the last opportunity to make it into the Irish Farmers Journal stand to see one of Neven’s cookery demonstrations. If you have already been and are hungry to try out some of his creations at home, the recipes are on pages 15-19. The Irish Country Living team cook-off also comes to its climax today, with Ciara cooking up her infamous (well she claims it’s infamous) fish pie. Neven will have the casting vote between the aforementioned fish pie, my tandoori pork and crispy bacon rice or Katherine’s gluten-free contractors cottage pie. I am hoping for a victory but in the event of a loss, I must point out that I was up against a food editor who has been hanging out with Neven for the best part of 10 years and a home economics teacher, just saying.