Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Women in farming: School project

Hi everyone! I am a third-year journalism student at Loyalist College. Currently, I am working on a documentary about women on the family farm.

I want to explore how these days, women are taking on more active roles than ever before, while at the same time, running homes, raising children, and in some cases, even working outside of the home. I want to know what they think of this shift, and what it means in terms of lifestyle. How do they do it all? How are their husbands/partners supportive? Why is this change significant? Etc.

If anyone lives around the Belleville area and is interested in doing an interview, or knows anyone in the Belleville area, I would really appreciate your help.

Also, if anyone has any other suggestions on how to approach the story, that would be appreciated as well.

Thank you so much!

Views: 297

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by rosemarie haegens on November 8, 2011 at 4:26pm

I do not live in the Belleville area but I have raised four children as we started our farm, the need for the second income could not be denied as my husband has worked off farm for 25 years. As a result full responsibility for the day to day decisions and planning have become my responsibility. I am 51 and looking back now I wonder how I managed, I guess all I can say is that there were allot of long hours trying to keep house and keep a normal life for my children. I do know that there we times throughout the year that you just had to pick the things that you can live with, maybe a little more clutter and dirt in the house then you would like. I do know that I made the time to go to my children's class trips and let the fields wait. I always knew when I put in too many hours, as  I could count on every spring planting season and every harvest my youngest would  always crawl into my bed at 3:00 am. I am a grandmother now and when my first grandchild was born my heart ached because I really felt that at this point in my life I should be able to spend more time with them. I have considered a combine with a jump seat. I have been really lucky that I was able to employ my daughter who brings my grandchildren to work, she now keeps my house in shape while I run the employees and the fields.

Hope this helps you.

 

 

Permalink Reply by Katrina Geenevasen on November 9, 2011 at 4:36am

Hi there Rosemarie,

 

Whereabouts are you from? Even though you might live far away, I could still interview you for a print story, if you'd be interested? 

Thanks for your reply..it sounds like you have lived a very busy life on the farm!

 

 

 

Permalink Reply by rosemarie haegens on November 9, 2011 at 7:23am

Fenwick Ontario close to the St.Catharines Niagara Falls area

Permalink Reply by Katrina Geenevasen on November 14, 2011 at 7:41am

That would be okay! We could do a phone interview sometime..it will give the story a broader voice than just local farmers. I'll give you my email so we can arrange a date for an interview, etc.

 

katrinageenevasen@gmail.com

 

 

RSS

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Grupo Bimbo Challenges U.S. Tariffs in Trade Lawsuit

Grupo Bimbo takes legal action against U.S. tariffs imposed under an “economic emergency” claim.

Breaking Barriers -- Why 2026 Is the Year of the Women Farmer

The United Nations has declared 2026 the International Year of the Women Farmer, signaling a global commitment to gender equality in agriculture. Does gender equality in agriculture exist in Canada?

Is the Year of the Women Farmer Worth Celebrating in the U.S.?

Compared to their male counterparts, female producers are more likely to live on the farms they operate.

What are machinery manufacturers excited about for 2026?</

John Deere and CLAAS are excited about upgrades for 2026.

Carryover Seed Explained: Certified, Tested, and More Valuable Than Ever

From bumper crops to insurance against bad harvests, carryover seed plays a bigger role than many people realize. Carryover seed is becoming a more visible part of the Alberta seed landscape, but according to seed growers and testing experts, its presence is nothing new. In fact, having carryover seed on hand often presents a strategic advantage for both seed growers and farmers. The Alberta-British Columbia Seed Growers’ Association (ABCSG) has offered a carryover listing service since around 2009, before the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association (CSGA) added carryover capability to the national Seed Locator in 2018. For Greg Stamp of Stamp Seeds, carryover seed — certified seed that simply wasn’t sold the year it was produced — is a natural part of running a pedigreed seed business. Predicting dryland yields isn’t exact, he says, and some years he produces more seed than expected. “Sometimes we expect 20 bushels of durum and get 40 or 50,” he says. “That becomes two years’ worth. We

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service