The future's bright for women in ag, but barriers still exist

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures for 2019-20 showed there was a two-thirds, one-third split between men and women working in agriculture, forestry and fishing.

But Victorian Farmers Federation president Emma Germano said while there had been a great deal of progress, an incident on International Women's Day reminded her 'unconscious bias' still existed.

"I still have to convince people I am a farmer, most of the time," Ms Germano said.

That was highlighted at a winetasting, she'd attended on IWD with a male friend, Dan.

"I had the VFF car and one one of the winery employees said to Dan, 'tell us about the Farmers Federation, do you have a farm?'," Ms Germano said.

"There was no place in this man's mind it might not have been Dan's car, but that it might have been my car.

"I facetiously said to him, you realise it's IWD and some women might be farmers?"

She said it was an example of unconscious bias, but the fact the VFF had a female president, vice president and chief executive was encouraging.

"Because I am younger, it is less shocking to me," Ms Germano said.

"All three of us were up against men, and all three were elected, or selected, and it certainly wasn't because of quotas."

She said all three had recieved a "tap on the shoulder", which helped with their advancement.

"It's about men and women championing diversity, across the board," she said.

"It's not always men versus women, there are lots of voices that need to be around our tables, whether that's representing cultural or age diversity."

Read more:

Ms Germano said while the numbers would suggest it was getting easier for women, there were still challenges in Australia around the largest gender pay gap and the lack of participation at the executive level.

"Our organisation is still not, I would say, completely balanced - but it takes more women in executive roles to make the environment friendly for women, behaviourally and structurally."

She organisations needed to think about investing in accessibility in areas including where and when meetings were held, particularly for women with small children.

"All of those things have to be addressed," she said.

"I guess it has been pretty difficult for men, over the last 30 years, to work out what women want in order to get into organisations.

"You need to have those diverse views, which help create a more inviting environment for anyone to participate."

Ms Germano said her five-year-old niece said recently she wanted to be a farmer, like her auntie.

"I said, like me and your grandfather?" Ms Germano said.

"She said, 'oh no, he's not a farmer, he's a worker'.

"I said, what do you mean? What's a farmer?"

Ms Germano said her niece replied:

"A farmer's the person who drives around the farm, telling people what should be done, then they go back to their computer and they work out where the money is going."

Ms Germano said she was pleased that it hadn't crossed here niece's mind she couldn't be a farmer.

Often women tried to emulate men in their behaviour and leadership styles, but the value was providing a different perspective.

"Equality means two things can be different, but of equal value."

She said it was men who had encouraged her to pursue her career.

"It's not the men who say they don't want you to be there," Ms Germano said.

'Having said that, I don't want to downplay the fact the bias is real and there are some unique challenges to it, beause you are female."

Australian Women in Agriculture Victorian director Sarah Parker, while the figures were "probably accurate", they didn't count women who owned a property or where partners, but whose primary agricultural job was not neccesarily on the farm.

Ms Parker runs a Goulburn Valley dairy farm with her husband.

"I have a number of board roles, and I also work in the industry, doing contract work."

She said she worked in the support services sector and was also on the Goulburn-Broken Catchment Management Authority board.

"There are a lot of partners in business who are also working in part-time or full-time jobs, running their own business on top of primary production."

Ms Parker said the figures had probably changed, due to coronavirus, with some women losing their jobs and unable to travel.

"What do you define as full-time, and part time?" Ms Parker said.

"Farming isn't a 40 hour a week profession."

"I am probably spending the majority of my time on the farm, because we are calving and preparing for autumn.

"There are ebbs and flows in the workforce, depending on what commodity you are in."

She said the statistics did reflect the questions asked by the ABS.

"But when you dig deeper, each individual farming business will have a split of hours and associated tasks and roles, according to what suits best," she said.

"Every business has different skill sets, between the partners."

In 2021 there was greater equality, as evidenced by senior roles at the VFF being filled by women.

"They are the next generation, coming through - so it is a lot easier, as women have a stronger voice and more opportunities," she said.

"You don't necessarily have to fight as hard as you used to.

"Part of that has been a natural evolution that's occurred, as women have taken on different roles.

"We have also had a number of women who have been trailblazers."

Ms Parker said whatever option women chose, the most important thing was they were offered opportunity and support, to achieve the their best.

"Sometimes its not necessarily about putting people into roles, it's about offering opportunities and support to achieve what their chosen goals are."

And StockLive manager Libby Hufton said women were integral to the success of the agricultural industry and the vital role it plays in rural economies and communities.

"Within StockLive I work with so many positive, intelligent and amazing business leaders every day whether they are producers, buyers, agents, administration staff, photographers, transporters, there is no role that women are not involved in," Ms Hufton said.

"In Australia, there are lots of positive female role models taking on and succeeding in roles in all aspects of agriculture including environmental sustainability, policy, senior management, operations and much more and this will continue as women continue to be supported."

She said she was fortunate to work for AAM Investment Group, a business that employed about 45 per cent of women in its total workforce of more than 530 people.

" I feel there are many barriers that still exist for women globally despite the fact that our contribution to all industries has proven to be significant," Ms Hulbert said.

"I think it is inspiring for all women in agriculture seeing people such as (NFF president) Fiona Simpson taking on leadership roles in agricultural policy right through to my mum who plays a vital role in our families' farming operation, being successful women in agriculture within Australia."

She said she had been provided with many different opportunities that allowed me to gain career progression and personal growth throughout her time with the company.

"I consider myself lucky to have been encouraged and supported by all levels of management when other women may have traditionally faced barriers in agricultural roles," she said.

"Your ability, knowledge and capability to succeed in a role within agriculture, or any industry, should not be limited by your gender.

"I think today's society will judge harshly any business that is not progressive and inclusive and that attempts to limit the opportunities of women."