SFF Project Summary
Enabling arable women to contribute more to their farming businesses
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| Website: | www.far.org.nz |
| Article: | Active in Arable Wins Praise |
| Quarterly Update: | December 2005 |
| Final Report: | June 2006 |
A dedicated discussion group for women in arable farming has had several benefits for one member who has been attending since the very first meeting.
Andrea Chalmers says it's not just the technical side of Active in Arable that has proved valuable for her, although it has given her new insight into the arable business she shares with husband Neville.
"It's also helped me keep up to date with regulatory and compliance issues. These are changing so quickly, and I see it as part of my role on the farm to stay current."
Involvement in the group, which started in 2001 with funding from FAR and the MAF Sustainable Farming Fund, has also proved useful for other activities, like presenting submissions to local planning hearings, Andrea says.
The Chalmers farm 640 ha at Waterton, growing cereals, grass seed, peas and brassicas.
When the first Active in Arable meeting was promoted, Andrea says she could see several good reasons for going along.
"Arable farming is different from livestock farming for women - there are not always the same opportunities to get out and work alongside the men. So even though we're constantly discussing the farm business with our husbands, we don't necessarily have the same hands-on technical understanding."
The opportunity to gain more knowledge of this side of the operation, as well as many other topics related to the business of arable farming, was too good to miss, she says.
"Plus of course it's been great to meet the other people involved!"
Maxine Watson was instrumental in getting the group started and has been the chairperson since. One of the upsides of the Active in Arable programme has been the wide range of topics that have been covered. Many of these topics relate directly to the arable farm businesses but there are large range of topics such as horticulture options and of farm investment which provide excellent background information when planning to the future.
David and Jeanette Montgomery of Agribuild in Ashburton have facilitated Active in Arable since its inception. They say it's been an excellent team to work with, highly motivated and strongly committed to the industry.
With 56 members from throughout Canterbury, meetings usually attract 10-20 for a wide-ranging programme.
"We've now held ## meetings since 2001, with topics as diverse as using computers and email to crop walks, resource management, farm employment, OSH, off-farm investment and irrigation management."
FAR CEO Nick Pyke says he's very happy with the success of the group.
"It's been great to see the concept take shape, and to see how those involved have remained so supportive and enthusiastic. There remain no shortage of new ideas for discussion topics and a number of these topics are complimentary to the information which is being delivered to the male partner in the business. We feel this information is helping the farmers develop more robust businesses that consider a number of new ideas and concepts."
Final Report: June 2006
Summary
The group was instigated 2000/2001 by a group of Canterbury based arable farming partners, all women, Chaired by Maxine Watson. Their objectives were:
- To encourage rural women to take a more active role in arable farm management as is evidenced in the dairy industry.
- To provide a support network amongst arable farming women.
- To encourage the sustainable use of resources on our arable farms.
- To have a business orientation to assist financial sustainability of their arable farms.
The group was formed under the umbrella of, and strongly supported by, the Foundation for Arable Research.
Funding for the group was provided by the MAF Sustainable Fund
David and Jeanette Montgomery, Agribusiness Consultants and Valuers were appointed as Group Facilitators in 2001 and are still active in that role.
Key Group Results
After four years of activities, the group still meets monthly from March to December inclusive, ie, 10 meetings per year.
We have had 35 meetings to date which involve guest speakers
Group membership currently stands at 48, we average 15-20 per meeting, and we have a steady flow of new members to the group.
Membership, attendance and participation is still very good after four years with a strong desire to keep the group active post MAF funding.
Member Benefits
The group is annually surveyed for feedback re desired group activities and forward planning.
Feedback we have received includes:
- Great opportunity to meet, mix and learn from a great range of guest speakers and also from other arable farming women e.g. Opportunities to learn a wide range of business and sustainable farming practices.
- Great support from a range of FAR technical staff and administrators
- The group helps provide confidence to members to have a greater role and influence in their own arable farming operation.
A very successful MAF Sustainable Fund project having met and exceeded all initial goals and expectations and with a strong desire to continue in a similar manner to keep this group going and seek opportunities to extend it's influence and activities to other arable areas throughout New Zealand.
Quarterly Update: December 2005
Three excellent meetings were held over the last quarter: Use of computers on farm - Gary Ray; Off Farm Investments - Don Church; FAR Major Open Day - Foundation for Arable Research. These meetings were well attended and provided the group with valuable information to incorporate into their farming business. In addition the group initiated a survey of members to identify future areas of activity for the group.
September 2005
Three excellent meetings were held over the last quarter: Machinery replacement - John Bailey; Crop modelling - Tabitha Armour, FAR; Farm succession planning / store lamb finishing. David Montgomery.
These meetings were well attended and provided the group with valuable information to incorporate into their farming business. In addition the group initiated a survey of members to identify future areas of activity for the group.
