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 Canada’s beef producers are a hard-working bunch who devote plenty of passion, sweat equity, and resolve into feeding the world while raising cattle sustainably. Showcasing producer perspectives on practices to safeguard the soil, grasslands, wildlife habitat, and waterways while caring for cattle is always a priority for Canada Beef. This year it will be even more so, with 2026 being the International Year of the Woman Farmer. The United Nations declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF) with a goal to build awareness around the vital roles of women farmers in shaping and sustaining agrifood systems – efforts that often go unrecognized. Women made up 41% of the global agrifood workforce in 2021 —almost equal to men— yet rural women disproportionately face precarious jobs, poor working conditions, and limited rights, according to IYWF 2026. “Women farmers are central to food security, nutrition, and economic resilience. IYWF 2026 will raise awareness and promote actions to close the gender gaps and improve women’s livelihoods worldwide,” stated their news release.  With a nod to the IYWF, Canada Beef is honoured to showcase women owner/operators in the Canadian beef cattle industry. Canada Beef will launch the Meet the Farmer Campaign: IYWF 2026 this month on our social media channels and newsletters. The year-long campaign will feature monthly profiles of women beef producers and acknowledge their leadership and contributions towards creating a sustainable Canadian beef industry. According to the Canadian Census of Agriculture, in 2021, 30.4% of Canada’s farm operators were female, up from 28.7% in 2016. The 2.3% increase in the number of female farm operators was attributed to growth in a specific farm category. Census data showed an increase (26.5%) in female farm operators who reported managing one-operator farms in 2021, with beef farms and oilseed and grain farms in Alberta and Saskatchewan contributing the most to the net increase in this category. Respectively, males declined in both the total operator (-5.8%) and one-operator farm (- 5.9%) categories during the period. Historical Census data provides additional context on the rise in the proportion of female farm operators: Over the past 30 years (2021-1991), total farm operator numbers declined by nearly 33%, with more male than female farm operators exiting the industry. The Farm Credit Canada (FCC) brief Breaking barriers: Women in Canadian agriculture, said the proportion of female farm operators is expected to reach 31.1% by 2026. “While encouraging, it’s important to note that this trend is largely explained by men leaving the industry, not by more women joining.” While women play a critical role in Canadian agriculture, they also face significant participation barriers, notes the FCC piece, which suggests that the “growing skills gap across the agriculture sector makes it imperative to grow gender equity and lift women’s participation in all aspects of farming.” Watch for our first Meet the Farmer: IYWF post on Canada Beef’s producer Facebook CanadaBeefInc and X @CanadaBeefInc this month and follow us along as we celebrate the contributions of women across the Canadian beef supply chain. Back to main page  GINA TEEL Director, Stakeholder Communications |
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