Women are increasingly leading dairy processing on farms, bringing new skills and vision to agriculture. Invitation à la ferme highlights this shift at the Livestock Summit.
Dairy processing by women on farms
Dairy processing on farms has long been a task carried out by women, often in the background. Today, it allows them to lead their own projects, showcase their skills, and take on significant responsibilities, though this aspect is rarely discussed in public forums.Women managing dairy workshops
Of the 32 members of the Invitation à la ferme network, 21—nearly two-thirds—are managed by women. While no national statistics exist, it is known that women have been responsible for this activity on livestock farms for generations.Focus on women’s roles at the Livestock Summit
The Invitation à la ferme organization aimed to highlight the often-overlooked role of women in dairy processing at the 2026 Livestock Summit. This included sharing stories like that of Christelle Lopes, co-manager of Ferme Batisse in the Puy-de-Dôme.Christelle Lopes’ journey into dairy processing
Christelle Lopes, a former primary school teacher, joined her husband on the farm in April 2024 after the departure of a partner. She wanted to be fully involved in the farm's operations, working daily with her husband, Lionel, on the processing side.Diverse roles and responsibilities
Christelle manages both the processing and sales aspects of the farm, overseeing tasks like making yogurts, placing orders, organizing deliveries, and handling accounting. She describes the role as requiring multiple skills and constant adaptation, though the workload is demanding.Work-life balance and support
Christelle acknowledges the challenges of balancing work and family life, but her husband helps set boundaries. Their partnership is complementary, with Lionel regularly involved in processing. Her team is mostly female, which she finds suitable.Gender dynamics in agriculture
Christelle notes that while the agricultural environment remains male-dominated, she has not faced significant gender-based challenges in processing. She emphasizes that the main issues are between employers and employees, not between genders.Advice for aspiring processors
Christelle advises those interested in dairy processing to master all aspects of the work, not just specialize in one area. She also recommends joining networks like Invitation à la ferme for support and to avoid isolation in farm management.Benefits and challenges of farm processing
Christelle sees farm processing as a way to gain autonomy and increase financial value. However, she cautions that any project should be thoroughly studied for feasibility. She describes it as a rewarding human adventure, though not without its difficulties.
