Women's role in farming is on the rise

So said Vicky Scott who farms with her two sisters Kate and Rachel, and parents David and Sue at Pockthorpe near Driffield. The 38-year-old pig farmer was one of around 15 women from the world of agriculture who were invited to a roundtable event hosted by Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss to celebrate the role of women across the farming sectors.

Statistics suggest that women are increasingly looking to the industry for a rewarding career. More than a quarter of the British agricultural workforce is now accounted for by females and the number of women running farms has increased from 23,000 to more than 25,000 in three years.

Mrs Scott and the other invitees to today’s event discussed issues relating to women in farming, including the barriers they face when starting and building a career in the industry, and how more female students and women can be encouraged to consider farming as a serious career choice.

The latest Higher Education enrolment figure show 25 per cent more women than men enrolled onto agricultural-related courses last year.

Leeds-raised Miss Truss said: “With agriculture often perceived as a male-dominated industry, it’s important we recognise the leading role women are playing. Now I want to see the industry build on this and more women taking on jobs in farming.”

Mrs Scott said she was lucky to be born into a farming family and therefore has not faced adversity on account of her gender by getting started under her parents’ guidance. Together, the family runs 1,700 indoors sows and another 1,200 outdoors.

Mrs Scott started work on the farm 14 years ago and is positive about the opportunities for women in the industry today.

“There is such a massive opportunity in agriculture for women and men. It is not just being around animals or driving tractors, it’s the science, technology, nutrition and agronomy sides too.

“There is so much that is encompassed within agriculture that people just don’t realise.”