Several places are up for grabs on the first female-only tractor and machinery skills course being run by Pallaskenry Agricultural College in conjunction with the Women in Agriculture Stakeholders Group (WASG).
The Limerick-based college is “leading the charge” in kindly delivering the two-day course free of charge.
According to WASG, the college has “always been at the forefront of supporting women in farming”.
Tractor course
WASG chair Hannah Quinn-Mulligan said:
“A tractor is not able to tell if a man or woman is turning the key in the ignition. Modern machinery means that historical physical barriers to women taking up farming have been eliminated.”
“We have had huge demand from women of all ages wanting to advance their tractor and machinery knowledge.”
“We delighted that the principal in Pallaskenry, Derek O’Donoghue, is helping to lead the charge in this area and support women in agriculture.”
You are required to have a tractor licence and some background knowledge of driving. However, the course will cover the basic to intermediate skills with the opportunity to tailor to specific areas of interest.
Places are limited, and anyone wishing to take part is advised to email [email protected]
60% TAMS grant for women in CAP
Meanwhile, the group has welcomed news that measures in the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will support females.
The group recommended the following in its CAP submission:
- Firstly, women over 40 should have access to a 60% TAMS grant;
- Also, women should have the option of joining female-only groups.
In a statement, WASG chair, Hannah Quinn-Mulligan, said:
“We welcome the news that both of these measures the department has included in its CAP plans. Today is a proud moment to be a woman working on Irish farms.”
“Less than 4% of all TAMS payments went to female farmers. Just 3,000 women (out of 19,000 participants) took part in the previous KT scheme.
“This will make a huge change to the lives of the 70,000 women working on farms across the country who have been effectively voiceless and invisible up to now.”
