Women, racialized, Indigenous and young farmers and farm workers, as well as those from other underrepresented groups, are invited to apply to THE EXCHANGE, a new training and support program led by the National Farmers Union (NFU).
National Farmers Union opens applications to training, support program for underrepresented farmers
Report examines farming women’s safety needs
Safety of children, stress over general safety a common experience for women
Farming women may need more support and programing to address their specific safety needs according to a recent study.
Opinion: For women in agriculture, opportunities abound
Mentorship program the latest enhancement for a sector that’s opened its doors to women
Reading Time: 3 minutes I can’t remember when I first heard the song “I am woman” by Helen Reddy, but it was in the basement of my parents’ house, where I would play my mom’s old 45s on a portable record player she’d had since her teens. I remember liking the singer’s voice but didn’t really understand the song. […] Read more
Alberta women have big plans for $10K windfall
Credit unions give a boost to women in ag
Reading Time: 5 minutes Two Alberta women are $10,000 richer thanks to a first-ever grant awarded by the province’s credit unions. Lynn Dargis of Bonnyville and Laurel Thompson of Vermilion were winners of the Women in Ag grant awarded by the Credit Unions of Alberta and ConnectFirst Credit Union. Stepped up Farming has always been in Lynn Dargis’ blood. […] Read more
Awards not just about achievement but about encouraging others
Reading Time: 4 minutes When Melody Garner-Skiba was growing up on a ranch in southwestern Alberta, her parents gave her the same opportunities as her brothers. “I like to say I was the hired hand when my brothers left the ranch,” she said. “For me, agriculture has always been a part of my life.” That’s doubly true now. Garner-Skiba […] Read more
AWC 2023: Federal ag minister inspired by farm women’s progress
Don't wait to be asked to participate, Bibeau tells AWC West
Calgary — Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau drew applause from delegates attending the Advancing Women in Agriculture (AWC) conference here this week as she acknowledged their efforts for paving her path into politics. Bibeau told delegates attending the 10th annual conference she’s never felt like she’s had to fight for spot at the political table […] Read more
The door is open and young women should walk through it
That’s the message of Feed Your Future, an initiative aimed at showcasing ag career opportunities
Reading Time: 3 minutes What Kassi Rinas does for a living is commonplace, but the agronomist also represents the changing face of a sector where men once had all the leading roles. “My favourite part of the job is being a part of the farmer’s operation from crop planning all winter to putting seed in the ground, spraying it […] Read more
STRONG STEWARDS: Women ‘a driving force’ in conservation efforts
Stewardship isn’t gender specific but female farmers are often champions of sustainable practices
Reading Time: 5 minutes Elaine Bellamy has known from the time she was a small girl — there’s something special about the land at Will Farms. “When I was a five-year-old girl, I decided to take a spoon outside and have a taste of the dirt,” the Rosebud-area farmer recalled with a laugh. “Apparently, I thought it was pretty good, […] Read more
Female farmers lead regenerative farming efforts globally
Most small-scale farmers are women, and they focus on healthy soil, water, and ecosystems, says author
Reading Time: 2 minutes [UPDATED: April 5, 2022] Many female farmers here are champions of sustainable farming, but their global counterparts have long been feeding the world using these management practices. “From my work as a writer, I’d argue that women farmers were already prioritizing sustainable agriculture practices long before this recent shift towards ‘regenerative agriculture,’” said Trina Moyles, […] Read more
Schoepp: The pandemic brought stress but also something empowering
A lot of the burden fell on farm and ranch women, but struggle also brought a new strength
Reading Time: 3 minutes Women have multiple roles on Alberta’s farms and ranches, and navigating the pandemic has taken courage, determination, innovation and forgiving grace. I asked some of them to share their experiences. At first, the fact that the country home was remote seemed a blessing as it reduced the potential exposure to the virus. But as time […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
