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!

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

Welcome to
Ontario Agriculture

Sign Up
or Sign In

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

Fuel Tax Suspension Offers Timely Relief for Canadian Farmers Ahead of Peak Growing Season

The federal fuel tax suspension is expected to lower diesel costs for farmers at a critical time in the growing season, easing pressure on already-tight margins.

Operating farm equipment in Ontario

Operators must be at least 16 years old to drive on public roads

Draft Beef Cattle Code of Practice Released for Public Comment

The National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) and Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) are pleased to announce the launch of the public comment period for the draft Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle. The public comment period allows stakeholders—including producers, consumers, and others with an interest in the welfare of beef cattle—to review the draft Code and provide input that will inform the final version, recognizing that perspectives and experiences across Canada, can differ. The draft Code and the public comment system are now accessible here. All comments must be submitted through the online system to ensure feedback is consistently reviewed. The public comment period will close on June 12, 2026. Following the close of the comment period, the Code Committee will review and consider the submitted feedback, and the final beef cattle Code of Practice will be released in 2027. A Scientific Committee report summarizing research conclusions on welfare-relate

Map: Further Improvement in Prairie Dryness, Drought in March

With the start of widespread spring seeding just around the corner, Prairie moisture conditions are continuing to improve. The latest monthly update of the Canadian drought monitor on Monday showed just 21% of Prairie agricultural lands impacted by abnormal dryness or some form of drought as of the end of March. That’s down sharply from 47% at the end of February and continues a downtrend from last fall, when farmland impacted by dryness or drought hit 71% in November. Most of the Prairies experienced near to above-normal March precipitation in March, with much of region receiving between 85% and 150% of normal, with some localized areas exceeding 200% of normal due to multiple winter storms, the monitor said. However, other areas were not as lucky, including southern Alberta, which saw only about 60% of normal. In Alberta, conditions generally improved, especially across central parts of the province where abnormal dryness and moderate drought receded after widespread precipitat

U.S. Midwest Better Positioned on Fertilizer, but Rising Costs Still Squeeze

Farmers in the American Midwest entered the 2026 planting season somewhat better positioned than peers elsewhere in the U.S. to manage the recent surge in fertilizer costs, but a new survey suggests many are still feeling significant strain as volatility tied to the Middle East conflict ripples through agricultural input markets. An American Farm Bureau Federation market intel article on Tuesday said the bureau’s Fertilizer Availability Survey - conducted from April 4 to April 11 and drawing responses from more than 5,700 farmers and ranchers - found the Midwest had the highest fertilizer pre-booking rate in the country. About 67% of Midwestern producers reported securing fertilizer earlier in the season, reflecting the region’s heavy reliance on corn and soybean rotations, where nutrient needs are large and purchases are often made well ahead of planting. That early buying helped shield many Midwest growers from the sharpest recent price increases. Even so, nearly one in three M

More…

Badges | Report an Issue | Terms of Service