Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

A national Zoom session hosted by the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council brought
together farmers, employers, and leaders from across the country to share new research on
women in agriculture and discuss practical steps for supporting their advancement in the sector.

The session was part of CAHRC’s new series called From Field to Boardroom , which aims to
help women in agriculture build skills, networks, and confidence. The council’s latest data
reflects a decade of progress, alongside persistent barriers that many women still face,
especially when juggling farm work with caregiving, family responsibilities, or off-farm
employment.

Rebecca Balsdon, who chaired the session, manages stakeholder engagement at CAHRC and
co-manages a dairy farm in Clarendon, Quebec. Speaking during the webinar, she shared that
the work is personally meaningful, adding that she too understands the day-to-day demands
women face in agriculture.

The 2025 findings were drawn from a national survey that reached 463 people in the agriculture
sector, with 92 per cent identifying as women. The goal was to compare the results with
CAHRC’s 2015 survey, using the same questions to better understand how experiences have
changed over time. Researchers also conducted follow-up interviews, focus groups, and a
review of other recent studies to confirm what the data showed.

In the workplaces represented by the survey participants, women now hold 42 per cent of
decision-making roles, up from 34.8 per cent ten years ago. But board leadership remains
harder to access, with women accounting for just over a quarter of board chairs. That figure is
an improvement from 2015 but still leaves many women without a seat at the table where long-
term decisions are made.

The research also found that younger women reported facing more barriers than older
respondents. Those challenges included feeling shut out of informal networks, being
underestimated, and struggling to balance work and caregiving. The survey pointed to a need
for flexible meeting schedules, travel support, and more family-inclusive planning across the
sector.

What many saw as the most promising part of the webinar was the focus on solutions that
already work. CAHRC highlighted its Event Fund, which supported 22 locally led activities in 10
provinces and reached more than 890 women. These events covered practical topics like tractor
safety, farm finance, mental health, and leadership. Selection committee members said
proposals were chosen based on how well they helped women connect, share, and build skills.
The conversation also included partners from Farm Credit Canada and Syngenta, who spoke
about using shared research to guide investment and expand training. There was agreement ​
that long-term change depends on cooperation between government, industry, and local
organizations, not just individual effort.

The From Field to Boardroom webinar series takes place on the third Thursday of each month
at noon. The next sessions are scheduled for September 18 and October 16. Full details,
registration information, and event updates are available at cahrc-ccrha.ca or through CAHRC’s
Facebook page at facebook.com/CdnAgHRCouncil.

Photo: The From Field to Boardroom webinar, hosted by the Canadian Agricultural Human
Resource Council, brought together voices from across the country to share new data and
practical steps aimed at improving opportunities for women in agriculture. (TF) Photo:
screenshot of the From Field to Boardroom webinar