Agriculture Industry Looking to Recruit Women

Article by: Hari Yellina (Orchard Tech)

In Australia, there are many people that are looking for the inclusion of women in the agricultural industry. With National Ag Day on November 17, Ms Hermanson said it was a good time to reflect on the impact of women in agriculture and how they could be included more in decision-making levels positions. She said she was encouraged by the increasing ratio of women in agriculture at a grassroots level but said more needed to be done at a managerial and executive level.

At present around 6 per cent of ag businesses have a female in chief executive roles, if ag is to be truly innovative that figure won’t cut it. Ms Hermanson is doing more than just talk the talk on pushing for equality in the workplace. She was a catalyst in FMC creating the FMC LEAD (Learn Evolve Apply Develop) Program, which launched earlier this year. The FMC LEAD program, combined with other partnerships, aims to retain talent in ag and support those talented individuals as they look to apply for more senior positions.

The LEAD program has won cross-industry support, with a number of other agribusinesses and farmer organisations, such as the National Farmers Federation getting involved. She said LEAD participants would have access to tailored education. We can help them with their ideas, whether they are looking at entrepreneurial opportunities or whatever they are into. The idea is that we help produce women who are board ready when it is done.