The Rural Voice, 1991-04, Page 48ONTARIO FARM WOMEN'S NETWORK:
New group wants to ensure that family, social,
and farm women issues aren't lost on business
by June Flath
"Agriculture in Ontario needs one strong lobby voice,"
says Donna Lunn, President of the Ontario Farm Women's
Network (OFWN). "We want to be part of that process, to
ensure that the family, social, and farm women issues are not
lost in the economic issues. After all," she
says, "it is not just a business, it's the
family farm."
OFWN was established two years ago
to promote communication among farm
women and farm groups. There were a
number of farm groups in existence with
similar interests and goals, however there
was no communication linking them.
This meant the groups often duplicated
efforts and had no way of leaming from
each other.
Twenty-one different farm groups
and over 300 individual members now
belong to OFWN. The organization ed-
ucates and informs its members, and pro-
vides up-to-date information on issues
affecting farm women and the agricultur-
al industry. It also keeps members aware
of the projects, concerns, and studies
being carried out by the various groups,
eliminating duplication of efforts.
"Farm women, historically," says
Donna, "have been lumped together with
the farm, their husbands." There has been
no definition of farm women. In that way
OFWN brings an element of pro-
fessionalism to the role of farm women.
"There are a lot of skills out there
which are often undervalued and unrecognized," she says.
Farm women need to be seen, and see themselves, as they are
— business partners. The partnership and shared decision
making is rarely recognized beyond the farm gate, says Donna.
For instance, 83 per cent of all farm
women do the bookkeeping, she says.
"They know where the farm is at. They
are the ones that know if they can afford to
buy Johnny a bike this month or if it'll
have to wait until next." However, she
points out that only 20 per cent of those
attending OMAF bookkeeping courses
are women. There are also no women on
many commodity boards, she points out, and very few on
provincial government agecies, boards, and commissions.
ii
Part of the reason for this, she says, is a lack of self
confidence on the part of the women. However, a larger part
is a lack of time. Along with the responsibility of the house and
the children, many farm women not only do their share of the
farm work, but work off the farm as well.
The Network produces a newsletter, holds workshops and
training programs, and has an annual
conference. It also uses its collective
voice to lobby the government on issues
affecting the farm industry.
The Network is creating a number of
alliances with organizations whose goals
are consistent with its own. For example,
it works with the Industrial Training
Council which holds training courses
through the community colleges.
It also supports the Agriculture in the
Classroom Association which teaches
teachers and children some facts about
modem agriculture. It is a chance for
farmers to combat the negative public
image agriculture has received.
The OFWN is also a member of the
Ontario Coalition for Better Day Care to
ensure farm needs are identified and met,
and it holds a membership in the Ontario
Farm Animal Council which helps inform
the public of farm animal practices.
Its newsletter addresses a wide diver-
sity of topics ranging from GATT, GST,
and OFA reports, to bovine growth hor-
mone. It also deals with such issues as the
effect a second income can have on the
overall agricultural picture; women and
the Canada Pension Plan; women and
crop insurance; women and the Ontario Family Law Act; dis-
ability insurance; and pesticide safety courses.
In general the organization encourages women to take the
skills that they bring to the agricultural business seriously and
to recognize the value of their input.
Donna recently attended a Statistics
Canada conference on rural and small
town Canada. The final topic of the day
was "Does rural matter?"
"The more people speaking on behalf
of agriculture," says Donna, "the better."
For more information on the Ontario
Farm Women's Network write: Carol
Rock, secretary, R. R. 2, Monkton, Ontario NOK 1PO.
June Flath is a St. Thomas, Ontario writer.0
"Many farm women have
three jobs... helping on the
farm, organizing the family
and working for off -farm
income"
44 THE RURAL VOICE