Ireland’s agriculture sector is being urged to rethink how it speaks to and about women in farming. In a new gov.ie announcement, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon TD launched a Gender Inclusive Communications Guide aimed at making agricultural language and imagery more balanced, modern and representative.
The launch took place at the Tullamore Show at Butterfield Estate, Blueball, Co. Offaly, where the 2026 event marked 35 years of agricultural excellence and placed a spotlight on generational renewal and farm succession. The new guide forms part of the National Women in Agriculture Action Plan and coincides with the UN International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026.
gov.ie backs gender-inclusive communications in Irish agriculture
The new resource is designed to help organisations, agencies and industry stakeholders use more inclusive wording and visuals when communicating about the farming, forestry and fisheries sectors. The goal is simple: ensure women’s contribution to Irish agriculture is visible, recognised and fairly represented.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, working within a wider public policy environment that includes Social Protection, Education, Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Children/Disability/Equality, is positioning the guide as a practical step toward stronger gender equality across rural Ireland.
Why the new guide matters
Recent data shows why the issue remains significant. According to the CSO Farm Structure Survey 2023:
- Women account for 13.2% of Ireland’s 133,174 farm holders
- Women make up around 34% of the country’s 299,725 total farm workers
- Representation at ownership and leadership level still lags behind women’s wider contribution to the sector
That gap highlights an ongoing challenge for Irish farming policy, especially as the sector focuses on renewal, succession and long-term sustainability.
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Women in agriculture and the future of rural Ireland
Speaking at the event, Minister Heydon said supporting women in agriculture remains a key priority and aligned it with wider Programme for Government goals. His message was that gender-balanced communications do more than improve presentation; they help break down stereotypes and encourage broader participation across Irish farming.
The initiative also reflects the interconnected role of public bodies and state institutions often featured on gov.ie, including the Department of the Taoiseach, Health, Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Revenue Commissioners, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and agencies such as Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), all of which shape the wider policy landscape affecting rural communities.
Spotlight on women farmers at Tullamore Show
The event also featured a panel discussion, “Celebrating The Role of Women in Agriculture,” at the Speakers Corner in the Sustainable Livestock Village. International Year of the Woman Farmer Ambassador Carina Roseingrave took part, representing women farmers nationwide and highlighting their role in shaping the future of Ireland’s food systems.
Minister Heydon praised Roseingrave’s contribution, describing her as an effective advocate helping keep attention on the importance of women in farming and food production.
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What happens next
The Gender Inclusive Communications Guide is now available through gov.ie, alongside further information on Women in Agriculture and the National Action Plan. For stakeholders across agriculture, media, advisory services and state-supported rural programmes, the message is clear: the language used today can influence who sees a place for themselves in Irish farming tomorrow.
As gov.ie continues to highlight policy changes across agriculture and public life, this latest move signals that visibility, fairness and representation are becoming central to the future of the sector. In that sense, the gov.ie guide is not just about communications; it is about helping build a more inclusive Irish agriculture system for the next generation.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
