From 1991 to 2021, the number of female farm operators in Canada increased from 25.7 per cent to 30.4 per cent and should reach 31.1 per cent by 2026, FCC said. That trend is largely explained by men leaving the industry as the number of farms has declined. not by more women joining.

“While the proportion of women farmers has been steadily on the rise, the actual number of women in farming has not been growing by much. In  fact, between 2016 and 2021 the number of female farm operators grew for the first time since 1991, but only by 2.5 per cent – translating to less than 2,000 additional farm operators. And women are also still less likely than men to be the sole decision-maker on the farm.

“Achieving gender equity can drive innovation, improve productivity and foster sustainability, leading to a more resilient and prosperous agricultural industry. Together, we can cultivate a future where everyone can contribute and thrive, creating a dynamic and inclusive farming community that benefits all.”

Women face significant participation barriers in farming as a lack of resources and recognition lead to under-representation among farm operators and in leadership roles within agriculture businesses and organizations, FCC said. The growing skills gap across the agriculture sector makes it imperative to grow gender equity and lift women’s participation in all aspects of farming.

Recognizing existing contributions of women could attract more of them to the industry. FCC estimated almost 88,000 additional female farm operators will need to be counted to achieve gender parity by 2026 – 75 per cent of which are already farming but unrecognized as operators and 25 per cent of which will need to be new entrants.

Currently female farmers tend to have smaller operations, and lower farm incomes. In 2021, about 58.6 per cent of female farm operators worked on  farms that reported less than $100,000 in revenues, compared to 51.1 per cent of male farm operators. Conversely, only 17.9 per cent of female farm operators were employed on farms with revenues of $500,000 or more, compared to 21.9 per cent of their male counterparts. Women have gained some ground in recent years in high value markets for products like beef, poultry, and eggs. Men continue to dominate the grains and oilseeds market.

Women in farming are more isolated than their male counterparts, and have less access to networking, mentorship, and support, FCC said. “Women generally have less access to a network of like minded peers sharing similar struggles who they can lean on for support and advice, and often have the experience of being the only woman in the room. This can be both challenging and intimidating. Women also face barriers to attending in-person networking events, as they are often juggling childcare and off-farm work.”

Programs like AgriMentor that pair new and established women farmers with experienced mentors and events like Advancing Women Conferences “can foster useful connections for women, helping to address time and cost barriers women often face when engaging in networking.”

This news item prepared for National Newswatch