GUELPH – The agri-food industry could realize new growth opportunities if it better served the needs of a growing segment of its membership – women farmers.
A new report delves into female farmers’ roles and experiences and how those could be leveraged for industry growth and strength.
“There has been a significant knowledge gap in the Canadian agricultural landscape when it comes to data and understanding of female farmers, and their roles have mostly been undocumented,” says study lead Bob Wilbur of Strategic Perspectives.
“The agriculture industry largely operates with outdated anecdotes and stereotypes … and these long-held perceptions influence everything from policy and program decisions to skills development, innovation and growth opportunities, and even business decisions.”
The study found women make an extraordinary contribution to Canadian farms.
This includes accounting, financial planning, analysis, business and succession planning, payroll, benefits, and regulatory compliance as well as crop planning, input purchasing, herd and flock management and field work.
The majority of respondents see their personal situation in a positive light with 89% believing their contribution to the farm business is valued by those who matter and 87% feeling they have the training and skills they need to fulfill their roles.
They are less confident about others’ perceptions.
Attempts to bypass women under the assumption that a man makes the decisions, condescending language and stereotyped expectations were all mentioned as challenges.
“Accountants and customers fared relatively well in the survey results, but equipment dealers, other farmers; crop, livestock and poultry suppliers; other service providers, and commodity associations are called out specifically as less supportive of female farmers,” notes Wilbur.
“This suggests there is plenty of room for improvement – and while there is no one-size-fits-all solution, there is opportunity for the suppliers and service providers who can address or meet this need.”
The report includes the following recommendations:
- create and enhance programming, development opportunities and resources that address women’s needs, including creating learning and networking opportunities dedicated to expanding skills and enhancing day care and other rural community supports for women;
- dedicate efforts to focus on supporting women, including creating a national coalition to address the unique challenges and needs of female farmers and more;
- support gender equity and equality initiatives, including encouraging greater participation of women farmers in agricultural policy and program development;
- promote communication and business management as essential parts of farming; and
- conduct research into the women’s experiences and contributions and the factors that influence farm success.
The study, completed in 2023, included 21 one-on-one interviews with female farmers from across Canada, and a national online survey that attracted 1,025 respondents representing all regions, commodities, farm types and demographics.
