Farm Contractor has joined industry stakeholders and other members of the Mark Allen Agriculture group to push for more female-friendly workwear and equipment.
Fourteen organisations from across the sector, have co-signed a letter written to companies which manufacture workwear, PPE and other equipment to urge them to develop more products suitable for women.
Signatories to the letters include the CLA, the Tenant Farmers Association, the National Sheep Association, NFU Scotland and NFU Cymru and the British Poultry Council.
The move was made as part of the Level The Field campaign, after its research revealed women often struggle to find workwear and PPE that fits properly.
This can include anything from suitable trousers to parlour tops, overalls, steel-toe cap boots, calving gloves, dust masks, and high-visibility gear, which sometimes can fall below the knees.
One woman who spoke to Farmers Weekly said she had been forced to buy age 12 boiler suits for work, which even then needed to be shortened, and did not include practical features such as large pockets, hammer slings or pen pockets.
The letters read: “With a growing number of new entrants to farming in the UK being female – 26% in the 16-24 age range – ensuring they have the option of properly designed clothing is vital.
“Narrower shoulders, more room in the chest, shorter torsos and legs, wider hips, smaller hands and slimmer fingers all need to be taken into account.
“Failure to do so not only limits women’s participation in farm work, but can also affect their safety and performance.”
“We therefore urge you to consider expanding your product line to include more female-friendly options.”
Letters have been sent to:
- Datamars, which manufactures well-known brands including Kiwikit, Oringi and Drytex, as well as equipment such as livestock taggers
- The VF Corporation, which owns high-profile brands including Dickies and Timberland
- Portwest, which manufactures workwear and PPE for the farming industry
- JCB
- Beeswift, which manufactures workwear and PPE
- New Holland Style
- AGCO, which manufactures Massey Ferguson and Fendt workwear
- John Deere
Full list of signatories to the letters
- Farmers Weekly
- Tenant Farmers Association (TFA), UK
- National Farmers Union, Cymru (NFU Cymru)
- National Sheep Association (NSA)
- Women In Agriculture, Scotland
- Women in Food and Farming Network
- Country Land and Business Association (CLA)
- Linking Environment and Farming (Leaf)
- National Farmers Union, Scotland (NFUS)
- The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH)
- Ulster Farmers Union (UFU)
- British Poultry Council (BPC)
- Farm Contractor and Large Scale Farmer magazine
- Pig World magazine
- Poultry Business magazine