Commodity watch by policy officer, Sarah Morrell
Women’s contribution to agriculture worldwide has been an increasingly hot topic amongst farming organisations, agri-employers and even governments over the past few years. Women are very much present and are part of farm businesses and the Northern Ireland (NI) agriculture sector but often behind the scenes.
Women in agriculture is not about being better or competing with men, it’s about recognising the sometimes unseen work of women on farms and the wider industry. Women can be regarded as a helping hand on the farm, and not as farmers in their own merit. However, without their valuable contributions to the day to day running of farms or the wider industry, NI agriculture would not be the same.
The Ulster Farmers’ Unions (UFU) first Women in Agriculture Conference in 2019 was a huge success and highlighted the appetite amongst the industry to raise awareness of women’s contributions to agriculture in NI. The rural affairs committee are delighted to have launched the 2021 virtual women in agricultural conference which kicks off on the 14 April at 7:30pm.
The overall theme of the conference and the first webinar is ‘Resilience and Resourcefulness’. The committee are pleased that FoodNI CEO Michelle Shirlow, Norma Rohan, Embrace FARM and Veronica Morris, Rural Support CEO, will be giving their views and taking questions on ‘Resilience and Resourcefulness.’
Resilience
Working in agriculture can be challenging, especially at busy times of the year such as calving, lambing and harvest. The farming community has demonstrated an incredible amount of resilience throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and the changes that Brexit has created. Should a farmers mental health suffer, NI is fortunate to have Rural Support, a dedicated mental health charity which signpost farmers and their families to appropriate help.
Veronica Morris became Rural Support chief executive in January 2020. Originally from Killeeshil in Co. Tyrone, Veronica’s extended family have been farmers for several generations, making her very familiar with the challenges that working on a farm presents. Therefore, she is passionate about helping farmers and rural families to build mental resilience through practical support and coaching.
Sharing the screen with Veronica to discuss resilience is co-founder and chairperson of Embrace FARM, Norma Rohan. Unfortunately, just six days after the birth of her first child, her father-in-law was involved in an accident on their farmyard. He was on life support before it was turned off on 22 June 2012, and there began their journey into grief, trauma and loss.
Approximately a year and half later, Norma and her husband Brian decided to hold a remembrance service for those killed and injured on farms in Ireland. Embrace FARM begun with the very first national remembrance service on the 26 June 2014 and is now officially registered as a charity to support those affected by farm accidents.
Resourcefulness
Michele Shirlow is a founder and chief executive of FoodNI. She is working to establish NI as a leading food region in the UK, following the successful delivery of the first ever Year of Food and Drink in 2016, which increased visitor attitudes towards NI food and drink by 23 percent. Michele’s presentation will celebrate all that is good about food in NI and how the agri- food industry has been resourceful during a challenging year.
Despite the disruption and pressure placed on supply chains milk, meat, vegetables and cereals still made it to the shelves for consumers. Even more pleasingly local businesses adapted and overcame challenges to thrive, as the general public connected with where their food comes from.
Getting involved
The conference is open everyone – men and women of all ages and UFU members and non-members alike. To book your place at the conference visit the UFU website (events tab). The committee look forward to welcoming you along to the conference and hope you benefit from the speakers’ presentations and question and answer sessions, all from the comfort of your own home!
