Women in agriculture need to start challenging norms on the farm, according to Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney.

The Minister was speaking at the Women and Agriculture Conference in the Knightsbrook Hotel in Trim, Co Meath.

“When I walk on to a farm, why is the son looked at as the successor? Why do women reinforce that perception too? We need families to make a transition. It’s not acceptable that we think farmers should be men,” he said.

Minister Coveney said women carry out 30% of work on farms, but only make 10% of the decisions. He added that 45% of Single Farm Payments (SFP) in the EU are distributed to female farmers. In Ireland, only 8% of women are in receipt of SFP in their own right.

“This attitude towards women in farming isn’t the norm across the world or even in Europe,” he said.

“The majority of women here probably help with the accounts at home, but how many are involved in picking machinery or grain varieties? We may well see smarter decisions being made on farms if more women were included. We can’t shy away from these conversations that need to happen.”

Coming from a male-dominated household with five brothers, Minister Coveney said his young family is forcing him to think differently about the role of women.

“I have three daughters and they have changed my perspective. I’ve been thinking about their opportunities, the questions they should ask and the lives they will choose to lead,” he said.

He told the conference that there are now women in senior management in the Department of Agriculture, with three in the committee. Prior to his appointment, no woman had ever sat on the board.

Farm safety

Minister Coveney reiterated his stance on farm safety, urging delegates to think about the impact of accidents.

“I want 2015 to be a watershed year but I can’t do it without you. Things need to change. There is no limit to the purse – I will bring in changes if they will save lives,” he said.

“Children should not be working on farms around machinery. They might want to, but you are their guardian. We must stop tragedies on farms,” he said.

In the afternoon the conference will hear Diane Banville of Embrace FARM, who lost her husband Kevin due to a farm accident just 11 months after their wedding.