We are slowly getting back to attending conferences and events. The online stuff became very trying and after the initial novelty of zoom meetings, it quickly wore off.

One thing I have noticed that has not changed since March 2020 is the lack of women represented on conference stages. This is particularly acute when it comes to agriculture. Women remain woefully under represented on conference panels for some reason.

It reflects the male-dominated state of farming. I was at a mart recently and of the around 100 people I saw, there were two women. Only 12% of Irish farms are in the name of women.

The main farm organisations have never had a women leader apart from Macra na Feirme. There may be signs of things slowly changing with more young women studying agri-food related third level courses, my own daughter included. She is in her second year studying agriculture and environmental science in University College Dublin and she loves it. I hope she becomes one of those leading women in agriculture in the future. No pressure Deirbhile!

Some of the best communicators on agriculture and farming matters I have encountered in recent years are women

There is a plethora of women occupying key positions of leadership in the broader agri-food and agri-business world but it is not reflected publically. And so as we get back to attending conferences and in person events, organisers need to place more emphasis on gender balance when assembling panels, speakers and contributors.

Some of the best communicators on agriculture and farming matters I have encountered in recent years are women such as Tara McCarthy, Zoe Kavanagh, Anna-May & Anna Marie McHugh, Professor Thia Hennessy, Mairead Lavery, Dr Karina Pierce, Dr Fiona Thorne, Siobhan Talbot and many other female farming writers and journalists including Amii McKeever and Katherine O’Leary of this parish to name just a few. All are top-class communicators and the sort of experts Irish farming needs as we enter a seismic era for food producers.

I’ve mentioned here before how the Irish farming story has gotten lost in public discourse. Communication is arguably the most important tool Irish farmers need right now. They’re fighting a rearguard action in that regard and in huge need of a more fluid line of communication which is clear and factual.

When we hear the story of Irish farming it’s from a political perspective and more often than not in the negative. And it’s inevitably men who are wheeled out to defend or explain farming. Why not more women contributors including the many experts in our universities and in Teagasc?

If there is one thing about the agri-food sector, they are good at organising conferences, and plenty of them

It remains a massively male dominated business and no disrespect to us male of the species, but the image of farming would be greatly enhanced by the inclusion of more women and female experts in problem solving conferences and events across the industry. If there is one thing about the agri-food sector, they are good at organising conferences, and plenty of them! But most of them are stacked with men in suits and its baffling that when the organisers don’t seem to notice.

Women in agriculture have so much new thinking to bring to the future direction of farming and food production

This is not about tokenism or making up the numbers. Women in agriculture have so much new thinking to bring to the future direction of farming and food production. So many artisan food businesses and off farm alternative enterprises are run by women. And that sort of entrepreneurship will be the key to keeping rural communities afloat as farming adjusts to the various changes required to mitigate climate change.

And so we need to hear from more women associated with these businesses and others on conference stages.

Be kind

Young part-time sales staff in shops, bars and restaurants will be under severe pressure over the next couple of weeks. Be nice to them. Its tough enough circumstances for them, without berating them.