Women in Farming - Further Information

Sustainable Farming Fund

WIF was established in 2002 by a group of professional and farming women who successfully applied to the Sustainable Farming Fund for seeding monies.

For an Evaluation of the SFF-funded Women in Farming project click here. 

WiAg groups grew out of the WIF concept, and the first group was originally started in Northland.

Organisation of WIF / WiAg Groups

Some groups have facilitators / convenors, while others are run by a committee. It is up to each group to decide how they wish to organise themselves and they choose their own programme.

Members pay $22.50 per year to RWNZ which gives them the same entitlements as RWNZ branch members. (i.e. they receive the RWNZ magazine, newsletters, ability to tap in to bursaries, grants, accommodation, competitions etc. RWNZ will assist with running costs, accounting, auditing, travel of committee members, etc.)

Other fees are set by the group to cover its costs and will vary depending on how the group is organised, i.e. whether there is a need to pay a facilitator, or whether members decide to organise their programme using a voluntary committee.

FMG Sponsorship  

In 2005 RWNZ secured sponsorship for three years for specific learning packages for WIF / WiAg members.

The theme for the first year's learning package was soils and fertilizer.

If a WIF group wishes to have someone come to run a learning package workshop with FMG sponsorship, they should contact the RWNZ Executive Officer in the first instance. There will be no cost to the WIF / WiAg group.

Meetings and Training Opportunities

Members have the opportunity to take part in extension packages using their own farm as the focus. Topics can be decided on by the group, and may include such things as feed budgeting, soils and soil fertility, financial planning or genetic progress.