The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has announced a nationwide series of events celebrating women in agriculture.

This comes as 2026 has been declared the International Year of the Woman Farmer by the United Nations (UN).

These events are designed in consultation with the Women in Agriculture Stakeholders Group (WASG), Dairy Women Ireland (DWI), Macra na Feirme, and the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 ambassador, Carina Roseingrave.

Event dates and locations are as follows:

Thursday, July 23 – Abbey Hotel, Co. Roscommon;
Thursday, September 3 - Tullamore Court Hotel, Co. Offaly;
Thursday, November 12 - Temple Gate Hotel, Co. Clare.

Each event will start at 7:00p.m.

Admission is free of charge, but prior registration is required, the department said.

Registration is now open and full schedules, venue details, and booking links can be accessed online.

Women farmers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon said these collaborative events will examine important issues such as education, finance and diversification for women in the agri-food sector.

They will address the important areas of farm health, safety and wellbeing.

"We are proud to champion these events, which build on our ongoing commitment to gender equality and improving health and safety," Minister Heydon said.The overarching theme of these events is farm health, safety and wellbeing, with the first event scheduled to take place during National Farm Safety Week 2026.

Recognition

All events will feature a panel discussion focused on physical health, mental resilience, and farm safety, addressing the unique occupational hazards and caregiver pressures faced by women in farming and exploring other important themes such as:

Education pathways - expanding agricultural knowledge and highlighting education options and the rising enrolment of women in agricultural programmes,
Financial awareness – providing guidance on planning and managing farm finances and making the best of funding opportunities;
Farm diversification - exploring how women are successfully introducing new revenue streams to family farm.

Minister Heydon added: "Vibrant rural communities are crucial to the modern agricultural landscape and depend on giving women equal visibility and opportunity on the land.

"By highlighting accessible education pathways, financial awareness and farm diversification alongside core safety training, we are equipping women to grow and innovate on-farm.

"Women’s increased participation and recognition in agriculture is crucial to future economic, environmental and social sustainability and in promoting generational renewal."

Agriland series

Agriland's 'Groundbreakers' series, proudly supported by FBD, is highlighting the important role of women in farming.

The series, which includes articles, videos and podcasts, is showcasing a number of diverse experiences in light of 2026 being International Year of the Woman Farmer.

Issues being examined include innovation and diversification, generational renewal, and the evolving identity of Irish farming.