LOCAL woman have what it takes to drive Shoalhaven farming into the future and they are not afraid to get their hands dirty.
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Andrew Britton from the Small Farmers Network believes Shoalhaven women are changing the traditions of farming with innovative ideas.
“In agricultural management and education women are the ones doing the workshops and taking that knowledge back to the farm,” he said.
“They are training themselves up and then trying to implement changes on the farm.
“They are driving the industry forward.
“They seem to be more connected they know that the information is out there whether it is because they have the time to research or are more savvy, but you can see it in the workshops we do with the questions they ask and the feedback they give.”
The Shoalhaven Beef Association has a growing number of female members who make the most of the association’s workshops and support to farmers on a range of issues from irrigation to animal husbandry.
Milton farmer and association member, Janelle Wallace, believes women are helping change the face of faming in the region with their networking skills and use of technology.
“I think women put a higher value on networking, and we are better at collaborating and sharing ideas,” she said.
“If we need to sell some old cows, we look at what markets are available to us and it tends to be women who are taking on the role of establishing markets.”
Ms Wallace has farming in her blood, as her family has been on the land as far back as she can remember, and she believes farming women are embracing changes in technology on the land.
She can spend her day fencing around her 55 hectares property on Little Forest Road or creating a website to help boost her beef sales.
“I don’t want to take away from the past but today when you look for a market to sell your product, you set up a Facebook page, a blog and website with a shopping cart.”
Milton beef farmer Kim Wilson is a new member of the Shoalhaven Beef Association and finds the group empowering.
“My parents have been farmers for nearly 40 years, my husband is a cattle vet and my background is as a ranger but I still find the local information from local farmers invaluable,” she said.
“I have found the whole experience very satisfying and I’ve only been involved since the beginning of the year.
“Their knowledge of the small things that can really make a difference, for example we recently did a field day and learnt about soil biology and how that affects cattle.”
Mrs Wilson believes the women in the Shoalhaven are daring to make a change and are not afraid to get their hands dirty in the process.
“I think the reason that women are excelling in these groups is because they are not afraid to ask questions and not worried about looking silly,” she said
“Women are more willing to break the old farming traditions and try something new.”