Just heard that a new organisation has been launched for women in the agri-food sector called FeRN (Food & Education Rural e-Network). Sounds like it's going to be doing some of the same things as the Women's Food and Farming Union (WFU) but will be largely internet-based. Be interesting to see whether they achieve anything new or just merely duplicate and dilute the role of the WFU...

Oh come on Tim,  didn't you realise that so many women today are actually out there keeping down jobs in other industries.     Mainly it has to be said, to keep the family farm going.  So how wonderful ,  I can now fill in those responses to government questionnaires/lobby on line etc., knowing that the background is researched carefully from the expertise often held. but certainly disseminated by women within the industry.   So come on be positive.   WFU may hold substantial funding from levypayers in their coffers but lets see what a more dynamic grouping can do with little to no funds.

hanid

dragon:

So come on be positive

I didn't mean to sound negative, dragon. It sounds like it's already got some momentum and has the potentail to achieve loads. I suppose the question I was asking (and this is something that does happen with other organisations in farming) was: Will there end up being duplication of effort?

Here's some more on this.

The Women's Food & Farming Union is holding an opening meeting for tonight for anyone who lives and works in the capital and is interested in joining its new London branch. It's at the Farmers Club at 6:00pm. Be interesting to hear how it goes...

Membership is not restricted to women in farming then? 

Malcolm:

Membership is not restricted to women in farming then?

Not sure. I imagine the law probably precludes them actually excluding men...although in practice I doubt if there are many men in it...

 I was thinking more that there is not a lot of farming that goes on in the capital....

Malcolm:

I was thinking more that there is not a lot of farming that goes on in the capital....

That's true. Although, I can see why they're doing it - basically, taking the message into the heart of the capital. And I guess there'll be lots of farmers' daughters (and sons) living there, even if they're in jobs totally unconnected with the countryside.