Opinion: Female farmer numbers show major increase

For the first time in 30 years, the number of female Canadian farm operators appears to be on the rise.

Farms in Canada tend to be family operations. The fact that women are turning up on the census rolls in higher numbers might be a result of better data, women more accurately identifying their roles, or simple demographics. Canada has about half a million more women than men so it might also be that, as a percentage, more women farm.

Data from the 2021 national farm census shows the number of female operators is up and the trend is toward more women overall.

All farms, not just commercial-scale operations, total about 190,000 in Canada, with about 260,000 farm operators. Defining what is a farm and who operates it is difficult because everyone has their own idea. Farms range from tiny operations with a few animals or a small greenhouse, to intensive livestock businesses and aquaculture, to vast grain and oilseed farms on the Prairies or pastures that stretch through the furthest reaches of the nation’s north, south and into the mountains. All of these fit someone’s definition of farms.