Women in agriculture and food production are being celebrated for International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF). 

CAP Network Ireland will this week officially launch the second edition of ‘Women in Agriculture: Driving Change Under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan’.

The launch will take place at an event to mark IYWF, hosted by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) in Tullamore on Thursday (September 3).

The publication celebrates the significant impact, innovation and leadership contributions of women in shaping the future of agriculture and rural communities in Ireland.

Building on the inaugural publication, the second edition shines a spotlight on a number of inspirational women involved in the agriculture and food production sectors.

It is showcasing their work across areas such as agri-food entrepreneurship, rural enterprise, farming, fisheries, education, research and environmental stewardship.

Roles of women

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon said: "The women featured in this booklet demonstrate the vital and varied roles women play in strengthening our agricultural and rural communities, shaping a more sustainable and resilient future for Irish farming.

"This booklet is another way in which we can promote greater female participation and leadership within the sector, while offering women and young girls a range of role models to show them that Irish agriculture offers them a viable and rewarding career."

Minister Heydon also congratulated Co. Donegal dairy farmer Gillian Smith, the winner of the IYWF photo competition, whose image features on the cover of this year’s booklet.

The minister said the image "captures the diversity, dedication, and creativity of women’s contribution to agriculture and rural life across the country".

This edition of the booklet includes the profiles of the winning entries to the photo competition.

The competition celebrated the varying roles played by women in rural life and modern agriculture, with images submitted from across the country in categories such as farming, fishing, sustainability, and rural diversification.

IYWF

DAFM secretary general Sinéad McPhillips added: "The IYWF provides an important opportunity to recognise and celebrate the invaluable contribution women make to Irish agriculture and to highlight the many diverse and rewarding roles they play across our farming and agri-food sector. 

"The CAP Network Ireland Women in Agriculture Booklet for 2026 is a fitting contribution to that celebration.

"By sharing the experiences, achievements and stories of women working in agriculture, it helps to make their contributions more visible and, importantly, provides real-life role models for the next generation."

McPhillips said that visibility matters, and young women and girls "need to see women succeeding in farming, to recognise that there is a place for them too". 

"The women featured in this booklet demonstrate the breadth of opportunities available and the vital role women continue to play in the future of Irish agriculture," she added.

"I hope it will inspire women and girls to consider a future in agriculture, while ensuring that the contribution of women farmers today is recognised, valued and celebrated."

Women farmers

While 27% of agricultural workers in Ireland are women, only 13% of farm holders are women, according to a research report led by Maynooth University.

Further, those farms owned by women tend to be both smaller and of lower land value.

It is also estimated that women working in the agricultural sector earn 30% less than their male counterparts.

CAP Network Ireland project manager James Claffey said recognising the vital, yet often unrepresented, role that women are playing in Irish agriculture, the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 "aims to help women farmers through targeted financial supports, specialised investment schemes, and gender balanced initiatives".

"We hope that these measures will begin to address the underrepresentation of women in Irish agriculture, and that the female farmers featured in this booklet will serve as an inspiration to the younger generation," Claffey said.

"Ultimately, we want to encourage more female leadership, ownership, farm modernisation and gender equity in the agricultural sector."