Female farmers have been urged to make sure they involve themselves in any discussion about succession.
Inheritance is just one of the major issues on the agenda of the Women and Agriculture conference which begins today in Kilkenny.
“It’s not an easy question because it’s not just [about] the business of the farm, it’s what’s going to happen in terms of family dynamics and relationships,” Irish Country Living Editor Ciara Leahy said.
“Navigating that can be tricky.”
A female farmer. Date unknown. Image: Alamy.comCSO figures from earlier this year found that 25%, or close to 300,000 women, work in the agriculture sector in Ireland and Ms Leahy said more and more young girls see farming as a potential career.
“It’s not just the case that the farm is passed down to the eldest son,” she said.
“We are seeing more female farmers that are being innovative and that are taking on the reins - maybe farming in partnership with their father, their brother, with their sister.
“This is something that hasn’t happened [before] over the last years and this is why there’s some really dynamic, forward thinking female farmers.”
The conference’s 600 delegates will also explore issues such as work life balance, pension advice and future planning.
Main image: A young female farmer sits among sheep in pens at an indoor agricultural event. Picture by: Alamy.com
