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The characteristics of female farmers in Canada are described. Many of Canada's 13,000 female farmers operate the same types of farms as men, however, the women's farms are more specialized and smaller. Women farmers usually incur less debt and often operate the farm alone. While most male farmers are married, only about half of female farmers are married. Many women who become farmers had not thought of doing so at a young age. Women may choose farming because of the control it affords over their work and child care flexibility, besides a love of the land and outdoors.

FARM WOMEN> FARM CRISIS Farm women have always laboured -- in the field, with livestock, kepping books and other administrative responsibilities, running errands and feeding work crews, in addition to [...]

BROOKFIELD Ostrich Farm, Churchweston, Oxon, or more precisely the Vince Tyack Gallery, is the home of the Yellow Hat Tribe exhibition, and a visit is an uplifting experience. To be […]

The number of women in the role of NFU county chairman can be counted on one hand. Liz Boynton met one from Herefordshire DESPITE the fact that only a handful […]

A women who is a beef farmer, gardener, trainer, and mother of four talks about the challenging aspects of her life. She wants her children to have ample opportunities and not feel their lives are limited to farm work. The children participate in 4-H, sports such as hockey, basketball, and figure skating, and music. Farm work involves long hours and is hard on the body, but the family is dedicated to this lifestyle.

The efforts of women farmers to elevate their status are described. These include dairy farmer Florence Rachwal's efforts to promote a stamp honoring farm women and the increasing responsibility and political participation of farm women.

The wife of a farm successor should brace herself for the responsibilities and consequences of family farm life. She should be patient, support her husband and share the family dedication to the business. For the family, they should accept their in-law as a full-fledged family member and include her in all major decisions affecting the family.

The daughter-in-law of a farm owner is in a difficult position because she is often viewed as an outsider. Instead, the farm family should welcome her as a member who has a right to be interested in the farm operation.

Farm women are beginning to participate as members of farm policy-making boards in Canada. Lorraine Lapointe of southeastern Ontario became the first woman member of the Ontario Milk Marketing Board. Kathryn MacDonald of eastern Ontario became a member of the Lennox and Addington Federation of Agriculture and the Farm Products Marketing Commission. They feel that women, who are interested in health, environment, and their community, bring a new perspective to the boards.

HELPING THE WOMEN WHO FEED AFRICA When you talk about food farmers in Africa, you're talkingabout women. Women are responsible for more than 70 percent of all food production in […]