Watch: Groundbreakers - why this former nurse chose farming full-time
In the latest episode of Agriland's Groundbreakers series, a Co. Meath dairy farmer shares why swapping nursing for full-time farming was the best decision she ever made.
Groundbreakers, 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.
Laura Hannon is dairy farming in partnership with her parents and grandmother near Derrypatrick, Drumree, Co. Meath.
Laura is farming full-time since 2019.
"Before that, I was working as a general nurse in the operating theatre in Beaumont Hospital.
"I was doing the distance learning green cert at the time, and as I was doing that, I was realising how much I was missing the farm while I was working in Dublin.
"Before I finished the green cert, I decided I wanted to go home farming full-time.
"Since then, I've completed a part-time degree in agriculture as well," Laura said.
Laura said she does not regret working in the healthcare profession - but also does not regret leaving it either.
When it comes to farming, she said: "I absolutely love it and I'm not going anywhere".
'Difficult year'
Farming of course is not without its challenges, as Laura highlighted.
"We went into this year knowing it was going to be a difficult year," she said.
"We put a plan in place to reduce our costs. The weather hasn't really played ball with that, we've put in more meal than we planned on feeding this year.
"Things will bounce back after this year. Milk price volatility is always there and it's always a risk.
"We're just going with it as best we can and trying not to let it bog us down."
TB is a significant problem for the farm.
"We've been dealing with it since 2020. We're just kind of in an endless cycle of losing cows," Laura explained.
"It's very frustrating to just never be getting to the end of the problem. The current system that's in place, the eradication system, it just doesn't work.
"It's disappointing, and the new rules that are being put in place aren't going to solve the problem," she added.
'I was lucky'
When it comes to being a woman in agriculture, the challenges vary a lot, Laura said.
These include "not being taken seriously" by others, to succession, along with machinery and equipment "being designed for men".
"The safe lifting weight for a woman is 16kg, and bags of milk replacer or meal come in 20 to 25kg," she said.
"So every day, we're putting our health at risk."
She said accessing opportunities is also a challenge.
"It's generally the older boys that are shown how to drive the tractors, milk the cows.
"I was lucky in my case. My dad included us all on the farm," Laura added.
She also said that girls are "not encouraged" to do subjects like carpentry, metalwork or woodwork in school.
Dairy Women Ireland
Laura has been involved with Dairy Women Ireland (DWI) for about three years.
DWI is a community dedicated to empowering and supporting women involved in Ireland’s dairy industry.
"It's an organisation that I really wish had existed when I was younger, because I probably would have gone straight into farming from school instead of doing nursing," Laura said.
"DWI exists to support women who are working on farms, whether they stand in a gap, or they're milking the cows, or whatever they do."
Laura said she is also involved in a women's discussion group.
"Every month we meet up and we go through problems we're having on farms and how we can support each other or any sort of solutions that we can come to together," she added.
Groundbreakers
The Agriland Groundbreakers series comes as the United Nations (UN) has declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer.
This year spotlights the essential roles women play across agri-food systems, while often going unrecognised.
"Women have always been involved in farms, but they don't get the recognition," she said.
"It's brilliant for young women who are interested in agriculture to actually see that women are being recognised for their role on farms, and to see a potential career for themselves."
Laura said her advice for young women interested in the sector is "to go for it".
"It's scary because you don't see a whole lot of women doing what you want to do, but they're there," she said.
