Women play ‘critical role’ in farming

Irish agriculture has developed massively in recent decades, with changes to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the removal of quotas and various schemes all leaving an indelible mark on the sector. However one of the most significant changes has been the increased role that women play in Irish farming.

To highlight the importance of their role, a conference entitled ‘Women in Agriculture: Finding the Balance in a New Agricultural Environment’, will take place at this year’s Virginia Show. It will feature a series of talks by, UCD’s Dr Monica Gorman, Dr Marion Beecher of Teagasc and Barbra Bray MBE FIFST, nutritionist and food safety consultant.

Barbara Olwill is part of the team organising the talk and also has first-hand experience of the difficulties faced by women in farming, as she juggles working full time, farming part time, as well as a hectic family life.

“The conference has been running for several years. Last year we had a talk on biodiversity,” says Barbara.

“Even though the title is Women in Agriculture, it is open to anyone who wants to attend. It focuses on the critical role women play in farming, especially in the labour market as farm labour is always an issue. There are a number of our show committee members who have been involved in developing roles for women in the sector, so we want to highlight that and let them take centre stage for a change, as usually, it’s more male orientated.”

Barbara herself studied agriculture in college and comes from a beef farm in Cross, near Mullagh.

“Myself, my husband Cathal O’Gorman and my father Jim are in partnership running a suckler beef farm. With family commitments, it can take a good partnership to run a farm. It’s a juggling act with small children, you really have to make the most of every minute you put into the farm; find time for family and other important things in your life. It’s a constant battle, particularly trying to make it worth your while,” she told the Celt.

Succession

Passing the farm on to the next generation is important to Barbara, as she explains.

“My father is in his 80s now but has farmed the land since he was 14. He’s important in the running of the farm. We have a great love of farm and family traditions. Sometimes, economically, it doesn’t make a lot of sense but we’re the third generation of farmers to work the land. We would like to maintain it as a family farm going forward. We act as custodians of the land. We’re very proud of it, we want to farm it in an economically and environmentally stable way to pass on because I’ve got three kids.” While she may have a full-time job away from the farm, Barbara’s post involves working closely with farmers.

“I’m a water scientist with the local authority water programme. It’s a new agency looking at water quality across the country. We work in conjunction with farmers to protect waterways from loss of nutrients from farming activities, it’s evolving into more of a role with farmers because there’s funding available to protect water on farms.”