Feature: It's back to the land as women flock to universities to study farming

They are Britain's new 'Land Army', females of the 21st century following in the footsteps of the legions of women who took over farming during the dark days of World War Two.

Figures revealed on Tuesday, the International Women's Day, show more women than men have signed up to study farming and agricultural at British universities.

Enrolment results show 25 percent more women (1,115) than men (820) signed up for agricultural-related courses in the current academic year.

The Royal Agricultural University, in Cirencester, has seen a 44 percent increase in female students, while Harper Adams University, in Shropshire, has recorded a doubling of the number of female students studying agriculture over the last five years - boosting female representation in the agricultural faculty to nearly a third.

A group of women farmers joined government environment secretary Elizabeth Truss today to celebrate the International Women's Day.

They discussed issues relating to women in farming, including barriers they continue to face when starting a career in a male dominated industry.

A spokeswoman for Truss said: "Today, women make up 28 percent of the British agricultural workforce and the numbers of women running farms has steadily increased to just over 25,000."

Truss said: "The increasing number of women looking to a career in food and farming is positive and exciting. Farming needs to attract new talent and ideas and harness the skills of both young women and men. International Women's Day provides us with an excellent opportunity to celebrate the contribution women are making to farming.

"With agriculture often perceived as a male-dominated industry, it's important we recognise the leading role women are playing. I want to see more women taking on jobs in farming."

Farmer Jo Franklin helps to run Lower Heath farm in Hertfordshire. Jo is the sixth family generation to work on the farm since and is now helping drive the business forward. Her farm grows crops and is responsible for a flock of 1,000 breeding sheep.

Franklin says she believes attitudes towards women have changed, but attitudes in farming have further to go.

She said: "Most peoples' barriers are in their minds. You are treated differently as a female in a male dominated industry and have to work harder to be treated equally but farming is not unique in that respect."

Lynsey Martin, a young beef and sheep farmer, also chairs the Agriculture and Rural Issues Steering Group for the National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs.

She has experienced some scepticism about her ability to do the job, but says people are being won over by her hard work.

With plans to expand her sheep and cattle business, Martin said: "I count myself as lucky to be brought up with the ethic that gender doesn't matter. My mum was an only child so our family was already well used to women in agriculture she took on a full role in the farm." Endit