“The NFU wants to see farmers thrive in Canada. Enhancing farmers’ opportunities to build skills for their long-term success benefits us all,” NFU president Jennifer Pfenning said in a news release in late August.

THE EXCHANGE is a national program that aims to “maximize the long-term success of equity-deserving farmers in Canadian agriculture, the NFU said. It will support two cohorts of 20 farmers and farm workers to access training, grants, mentorship and networking.

The federal government pledged $287,487 over two years to fund the program.

“Agriculture is a vital part of our economy and we need folks from all walks of life to be part of it,” said federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay in the news release. “This program will help the participants develop and grow the skills they need to succeed as the next generation of producers.”

Applications close on September 27. Visit the NFU’s website for more information.

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The letter E at the start and end of that word inspired the name of Dimension-E, an organization working to empower women in the agriculture and forestry sectors.

Dimension-E is available to women who become members of the Agricultrices du Quebec. While primarily targeting female producers from Quebec and Ontario, the program is available to anyone in Canada who wants to become a member.

Why it matters: Women can face unique challenges on the farm and often lack needed resources.

“Our mission is to offer women in the agricultural and forestry industries a network dedicated to the development of their full potential, and our vision is to become the reference network for the success of women in agriculture,” said Katherine Rousseau, Dimension E’s interim director, at the Canadian Association of Farm Advisor’s Ontario event last month.

“It is interesting to be able to gather and look at data on women because the experience and challenges of women farmers are different than those of men.”

According to a 2023 study by Farm Management Canada, female producers experience a higher level of stress due to unpredictability of the work, work-life balance and financial pressures. Administrative tasks and business planning are often the primary responsibility of women on the farm.

Additional data shows women have complicated issues and relationships with certain professionals in the industry, such as equipment dealers and service providers.

Through Dimension-E, women can obtain mentoring to deal with these issues or join groups to get support. All programs are offered in French and English.

Rousseau said the organization aims to respond to the specific needs of women by supporting gender equity and equality in policy development, programming and governance. It also wants to extend existing research to more effectively capture data related to farm women and conduct additional research on their experience and contributions, so it can create and enhance resources.

She said women in the industry have expressed interest in developing leadership, communication, and equipment operating skills. This is where the mentoring program offered through Dimension-E comes into play.

The mentorship program matches women with mentors for six months. They meet remotely once a month to discuss issues.

“The mentee is often someone that registers because she is facing different entrepreneurial challenges in the development of her farm, and she needs an external perspective, someone that will help her think outside of the box,” Rousseau said.

In the organization’s peer group program, female farmers meet to discuss challenges and potentially benefit from the experiences and support of other women in the group.

Dimension-E also offers free expert consultation, where every member has access to hour-long sessions with experts such as tax specialists, financial planners and business advisors. Rousseau said the organization wants to add more experts in the future, such as lawyers and agronomists.

Research into the specific needs and challenges of female producers in Ontario showed they are interested in many of the things Dimension-E already offers, she said. Now, the organization wants to become better known so women can benefit from its services.

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For instance, more than two thirds of Canadian women who farm struggle to find safety apparel and personal protective equipment that fits them, said the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association in a recent report.

Thirty-nine per cent said women’s safety apparel is more expensive than men’s, and 42 per cent said machinery isn’t designed with women in mind.

The report draws on data from a broader study, which CASA co-funded, of Canadian farm women’s experiences. That study, which included a survey of more than 1,000 farming women, was published in February.

“Women are pivotal to safety plans on the farm,” CASA wrote.

Forty-six per cent of farming women said they were responsible for creating and implementing a farm safety plan, and 42 per cent said they were “constantly reminding people on their farm about safety issues.”

A quarter of women surveyed said their farm would have no focus on safety. Twenty-nine per cent said that others on the farm don’t respect their opinion regarding health and safety.

Safety of children was a top concern for farm women. Sixty-four per cent said caring for children due to a lack of daycare was concerning from a safety standpoint.

Safety was identified as a common stressor for women. Sixty-five per cent said they experienced stress when they thought about potential injury on the farm.

Fifty per cent said stress related to the farm was negatively affecting their health.

Nearly 60 per cent of women said they thought women should be included in safety training more often.

Thirty-eight per cent of women said they were concerned by health hazards specifically related to childbearing due to farm obligations.

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I remember liking the singer’s voice but didn’t really understand the song. I asked my mom why she was singing about women roaring. As far as I knew, only lions roared.

Mom tried to explain the woman’s rights movement and feminism, but I was still puzzled.

Unlike my mom and her mother before her, I was fortunate to grow up in a time when I was not told or made to feel I couldn’t do certain things because I was a girl. It never occurred to me that some things could be off limits because of gender.

I’ve never felt that I shouldn’t or couldn’t attempt a particular sport, school subject, job or activity. My parents encouraged my sister and I to do well in school, find what interested us and try our best.

We benefitted from the equality struggles of previous generations.

My mother worked, as did most moms and other women I knew at the time. Some worked part-time, some had full-time or professional careers. Some worked with their husbands or partners in the family business.

Later I realized the struggles for equality fought by generations before me were only the beginning. In my youth, few working women owned or ran a business. They were rarely paid the same salary as men for doing the same job, and there was bias about the types of jobs women could do.

This continues to improve, but inequality still exists.

In university, many young women in my program came from farms. They were studying agriculture because they had an interest and wanted to remain within the industry. Many knew they would not take over the farm from their parents, whether because they had a brother, or because they didn’t feel they could manage it financially or physically.

I knew several women with more traditional fathers who wouldn’t even consider transitioning the farm to a woman, even if that woman was their daughter.

But the gap on inequality in the agriculture sector is closing.

The most recent Canadian census of agriculture statistics show the proportion of farmers that are women is greater than ever before, at 30 per cent.

More significantly, the number of women who are sole managers of a farm increased by 26.5 per cent from the previous census. And women aren’t operating small farms. Statistics show the growth in woman operators came primarily from the top three classes, farms with annual revenues ranging from $500,000 to more than $2 million.

In an op-ed for the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, director Vanessa Renoud says census data shows that more women are stepping into leadership roles on farms of all types and sizes. She has first-hand experience, because she works with her father on the family farm near Green Valley, and is also as a Certified Crop Advisor and crop input consultant with farmers in her area.

She notes that for young women especially, “it’s not always easy to step into roles in this sector, whether it’s part of a farm business or in a wide range of other jobs and careers.”

Lack of mentorship is part of the problem, and that, too, is changing.

Renoud said a new agricultural mentorship program designed specifically for women is now available. It’s called AgriMentor and offers individual, one-on-one mentorship coaching nationwide for women working in agriculture.

The program was launched as a pilot by Quebec’s organization of farm women, the Agricultrices du Québec, and was a success.

In Ontario, AgriMentor is led by the Union des cultivateurs franco-ontariens (UCFO), with OFA support. Renaud said UCFO will match mentors and mentees, and the program is seeking both.

She said she didn’t have mentorship earlier in her career, and “although I had colleagues in similar situations that I could lean on, we weren’t able to give each other the type of guidance and insight a more experienced mentor can offer.”

I’m happy to see this type of program being offered. It’s more recognition that women have a greater role to play in the agriculture sector, and there is support to make that happen.

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Bibeau told delegates attending the 10th annual conference she’s never felt like she’s had to fight for spot at the political table because of work done by women who have gone before her.

She said in a follow-up interview she’s amazed and inspired by the shift in agriculture that’s taken place in the four years since she took on the agriculture portfolio.

“I’m very impressed by the next generation because they have so many opportunities (within) agriculture… With all the research and science and innovation that is being done in agriculture, they are all well-educated, they have degrees and I (look forward) to see how they see the future of agriculture,” Bibeau said.

She advised women not to wait to be asked to participate. They need to trust themselves to take on whatever challenges presented to them on the farm or within the field of agriculture.

She acknowledged it can be daunting going into meetings with only men at the table. However, she said, with more women stepping up, “there’s… no limit to the possibilities” women in agriculture can achieve.

Julia Flinton, a B.C. cattle producer and manager of the food systems program for the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council (ISPARC) in that province, spoke earlier in the day about how combining one’s passion and family life can turn into a career.

Flinton said she’s heard the saying “faking it until you make it” too many times from women — and asked “Well, what are we faking?” which prompted another round of applause.

— Jessika Guse writes for Glacier FarmMedia from Calgary.

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She launched the company in November 2021 and now offers a full range of women’s farm wear.

“I’ve always noticed a void in women’s workwear. I personally wear many hats, including agronomist, farmer and equestrian,” she said. “(I) have never found women’s workwear that fits well and shows off your personality.”

Why it matters: Women working on farms often have to wear ill-fitting workwear designed for men.

Durnin said standard workwear brands don’t provide a proper fit or essential features to meet women’s needs.

“We added seams to reduce bagginess in the leg, elastic straps for more flexibility, and buckles that don’t come undone,” she said. “Those are especially nice for girls that plan to ride horses in them.”

Additional changes included side zippers for dressing ease, a cell phone pocket and a line of longer-length options for tall women and riders.

“When you put on a piece of clothing that fits well, is functional, is going to keep you clean and warm and dry, it gives you a lot of confidence to go about your day,” said Durnin.

Traditional workwear is only available in standard, earth-tone colours, but this line offers customers a choice of blue and rose-coloured overalls.

[RELATED] Manitoba Co-operator: Clothing line for farming women, ‘just meant to be’

“I want to give women more confidence, showcase not just the glamour but the realities of rural life, and build a community with this brand,” Durnin said. “Farmers and many ag professionals work long hours. I really wanted to make them feel seen and empowered.”

Durnin is no stranger to hard work and long hours. The Auburn-area farmer is also an agronomist, self-proclaimed ‘horse-girl’, podcaster, and now a clothing designer.

The company launched with women’s lined and unlined coveralls but expanded the collection last summer to include graphic tees and sweatshirts, including unisex options. Durnin also hinted that there’s a new line of “innovative” coveralls in the works.

“I’m very happy with how the business is going,” she said. “The community DFR has built and the support we have received in a short time has been amazing.”

Early consumer uptake resulted in nearly all stock selling out by Christmas 2021.

The company also uses its social media accounts to reflect the realities of farm life, including “the good, the bad, and the hilarious.

“We are trying to highlight women working within the ag industry, showcase what they do on a day-to-day basis, (building) a sense of community through the brand,” Durnin said.

The clothing is manufactured in Canada and available on DFR’s website, or an appointment can be made to explore products in person.

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Julie Maw of Courtright will represent barley, corn, oat, soybean and wheat farmers in Lambton county (GFO District 3) and Angela Zilke of Embro will represent Waterloo and Oxford counties (GFO District 7). They were elected during annual district meetings held the week of Jan. 16 and officially became directors Feb. 2.

“Our board of directors strives to be strong leaders and having Julie and Angela join us will make us stronger than ever with the new experience and insights they will bring to our leadership,” said Crosby Devitt, chief executive officer at GFO.

“GFO has prioritized diversity, equity and inclusion,” said chair Brendan Byrne. “We have worked to build the reputation of this board and create an open environment that people want to be part of. We will continue to ensure that voices are heard and are welcome at our table. We look forward to working alongside our new board members to continue to advocate on our members’ behalf.”

Maw, who has served as a delegate and treasurer in District 3 for the last five years, said she is honoured to be elected as the voice of Lambton grain farmers and humbled by messages of support.

“It’s a chance to bring both local and provincial issues to the table, be part of important discussions and continue to promote agriculture,” she says. “I’m really excited about the new opportunity.”

Zilke is also no stranger to her local district and says she has been working “behind the scenes” in Oxford county farm groups for the last 30 years. Her husband, Mark, has been named secretary and treasurer of county commodity organizations that later became GFO District 7. Zilke participates in meetings, does administration work and was an alternate delegate in 2022.

While GFO is one of the last commodity groups to elect women to the board, Maw doesn’t feel gender is an issue within the organization.

“It’s not that it was frowned upon or wasn’t wanted,” she says. “There is no negative story behind it but I think it’s a great time to make the transition.”

She recognizes that some women have faced roadblocks within the industry but said that has not been her experience at the local or provincial level.

“My biggest concern is that I’m not interested in being with an organization that wants to have a woman on their board to check a box,” Maw said. “I truly believe you need to earn your position, just like everyone else.”

Zilke has often been the only female involved at the district level and says gender didn’t factor into her election.

“I don’t think it really occurred to them that I was a woman,” she says of the local election. “They know I’m going to learn, ask questions and give my two cents.”

Both women are passionate about educating consumers about agriculture and said they look forward to promoting grain farming in their new positions.

“There is so much misinformation between the producer and consumer and consumers can be untrusting of what we do,” says Zilke. “We need to show them that we are just like them because we are feeding our families too.”

Maw and her husband, Kyle, grow corn, soybeans and wheat and operate a custom farming business, along with their three sons. She works full-time on the farm, where she also runs a Maizex seed dealership. Maw volunteers as an alternate for the Lambton Federation of Agriculture, is a 4-H leader and an organizer of the Brigden tractor pull.

Zilke farms 400 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and edible beans with her husband, who is also involved in a larger family grain operation based in nearby Hickson. She is a mother to four adult children.

Directors in all other odd-numbered GFO districts have been re-elected for another term and those in even-numbered districts are continuing their terms this year.

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Jackson decided to do something about it and Rolling D Workwear was born.

“We began brainstorming about everything that we wanted in our workwear, how we wanted it to look, how we wanted to feel in it,” Jackson said.

Why it matters: Workwear it typically designed for men and does not fit well for women who work on farms or outdoors. 

Jackson works on her family farm near Inglis, Man., and wasn’t happy with available workwear choices.

“As someone who works outdoors myself, I was really starting to feel defeated by the lack of workwear options,” she said.

“There have been women working outdoors for generations and they certainly, absolutely deserve clothing that is for them and makes them feel good.”

Jackson’s aunt, Cheryl Digby, owns a manufacturing company called Deasil Custom Sewing Inc. in Morden, Man., where the first Rolling D clothing piece was made, as has everything made since.

A year after its start, the business is thriving.

“The response that we have had from women who work outdoors has been really positive,” Jackson said.

Most workwear clothes are designed and sized for men, so they don’t fit women’s bodies well. Though farming and trades jobs were once done primarily by men, Statistics Canada 2016 data shows 28.7 per cent of farm operators were women. In construction, women make up 13 per cent of Canadians employed in that industry.

The demand is high for workwear designed for women.

“Women deserve to have workwear that reflects their professional life,” Jackson said. “It’s important to have clothing that’s not only functional, but also to have clothing that actually fits. We want women who work outdoors to feel as confident as though they’re getting to put on their power suit to go to work every day.”

Jackson said the clothing is tested by women who work outdoors as part of the company’s design process.

The name Rolling D comes from the farm run by Jackson’s grandparents. That farm is no longer in operation, but Jackson said it reminds her of where she came from and what she’s working toward with her business.

“It’s reflective of our roots in the world of agriculture. I think it also pays homage to our family, in particular the women in our family who inspired our business.”

This article was originally published at The Western Producer.

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“Agriculture is a very dynamic industry that needs to be readily adaptable to change,” she said. “Now, more than any other time, the interest in ag tech has never been so high.”

Why it matters: Agriculture provides attractive career entry points for professionals without previous exposure to, or experience in, the sector, including significantly more women. 

“Investment in agriculture is strong, and conversations about climate change and sustainable agriculture are really coming to the forefront,” said Taylor, who is also an adjunct professor in agribusiness management and food policy at the University of British Columbia (UBC). 

She highlighted four urban-raised women with careers in the agriculture sector. 

Born and raised in Montreal, Gabrielle Menard’s only experience with agriculture was picking apples once a year. Now a commodity trader, the UBC Master of Food and Resource Economics (MFRE) graduate speaks to farmers daily.

Menard’s advice to women considering a career in agriculture is to “go for it.”

“It’s so interesting, and I keep learning every day,” said Menard. “[Agriculture is] such a wide sector, there’s so many jobs that we don’t think of when we start [post-secondary studies].”

She said weather, regulations and consumer trends impact prices and how producers farm. 

“We’re trying to find inefficiencies in the market to make the market more efficient and make everybody happy in the process,” she said.

Paulina Gonzalez Miranda pursued her love of numbers via the economic and financial sector but graduated from UBC with a Master’s in Food and Resource Economics in part due to the influence of her uncle, a farmer.

“[The food and resource sector] has always fascinated me – the supply chain, the food system, international trade – it’s a very unique industry,” says the Semios market intelligence analyst. “It’s something that you plan every year, and farmers are price takers, so every component of the industry is very unique and very old.”

Gonzalez Miranda remains intrigued by the impact of consumer trends, governments, regulations, environmental concerns, and how her generation’s love of questioning systems shaped the industry and its market.

“If they’re (women) interested in technology, this is a very fast-growing industry,” she said. “There’s a lot of opportunities, and I’m pretty sure that everybody would be welcome.”

Lynn Kemper, Richberry Group of Companies executive vice-president of operations, dipped her toe into agriculture almost by accident when, as a pre-med student, she worked for an entomologist as a cranberry field worker every summer through university.

“It’s funny because growing up in the city, you don’t think about agriculture first, and I sort of fell into this job,” said Kemper.

After graduating and a five-month travelling stint, she began a full-time job at one of the cranberry operations and climbed the ladder from field worker to operations manager, overseeing the summer students’ Integrated Pest Management program.

Consumers are influencing the sector via their interest in food production and processing, said Kemper, now an executive vice-president in charge of several cranberry facilities in British Columbia and Quebec.

“Consumers want to make sure the food they’re consuming has been grown in a sustainable way, and the practices farmers are using are environmentally friendly,” she said. “Those trends are really evident right now.”

Sarah Sache’s skill set didn’t have an obvious fit when she married a Chilliwack dairy farmer. Her bachelor’s degree in Canadian studies focused on human geography and resource policy. However, she developed a keen interest in the dairy supply chain from production to consumer product experience and preference, and brought her insight to several dairy organizations. Sache, now vice-chair of the B.C. Dairy Association and director of the B.C. Agriculture Council, balances her board obligations with farm work and raising a family and believes sustainability for the sector extends beyond the field.

“You need to have people who can make good careers in agriculture, who can sustainably do the work that they’re doing,” she said. “All of those parts taken together is the way that I look at it and certainly advocate for around the board table.”

All four women encourage other women to pursue careers in agriculture, saying it’s a fast-growing industry whether interests lie in technology, supply chain management, business skills or more hands-on approaches.

“It’s rewarding, it’s exciting, and it’s a space where there’s lots of room for change and new and exciting things,” said Kemper.

Sache said the ag sector holds extensive opportunity and no shortage of jobs regardless of skill set.

“There’s so much space to grow, and that’s what I’ve enjoyed about it,” Sache said. “There’s all kinds of opportunity you can apply and extend throughout this sector and make a lot of positive changes and impact and growth.”

Taylor said embracing diversity, differing opinions and expertise in agriculture allow the sector to overcome challenges.

In 2020 BMO expanded its agriculture team to better serve clients’ needs and launched the Climate Institute, a virtual hub encompassing science, analytics, expertise and partners to provide a value-added resource and service focused on climate change adaptations. 

Taylor said the group will also model droughts, floods and climate aspects that radically affect agriculture to help inform sector sustainability.

BMO’s Women in Business announced a five-year bond offering of $750 million to finance and lend to small and medium-sized, women-owned businesses or large businesses where women hold one-third of the company. BMO also expanded its women-owned grant program to award $200,000 to 26 female entrepreneurs.

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