The National Farmers' Federation is marking International Women's Day 2023 with a call to action for women to shape the future of Australian agriculture.

The peak farming body on Wednesday opened applications for its leadership program, seeking 12 women from across the country.

NFF president Fiona Simson said the diversity in agriculture leadership program, now in its sixth year, had built a reputation across the industry for building the confidence and skills needed for women to succeed.

Half of the program's 52-member alumni have gained board positions since graduating.

Ms Simson said this year's IWD theme - DigitALL: Innovation and technology - was aligned with modern agriculture, as an industry on the forefront of change.

When elected in 2016, she was the first female president of the NFF in its 40-year history.

"I am proud of the progress agriculture is making in levelling up the gender gap in leadership positions," she said.

The goal is to double the number of women in agriculture's leadership roles by 2030.

The program requires each organisation involved in the program to make a public pledge towards meaningful change in gender diversity and report progress annually.