1. Know your route

If you’re going to the Ploughing, then planning your route to the site will be essential.

The National Ploughing Association (NPA) has outlined which route you should take, depending on what side of the country you’re coming from.

2. Remember where you’ve parked

Do you really want to spend an hour looking for your car or jeep in a field after the Ploughing?

No. No, you don’t. To make it easier, download our Ploughing app and you can see where you parked on site.

3. Don’t go hungry

There’s plenty of options to eat at the Ploughing, be it a roast dinner or a packet of crisps.

You can see some of what’s on offer here.

4. Bring the wellies

A pair of hiking boots won’t do, so just bring the wellies.

Outbreaks of rain are forecast on Tuesday, there’s showers in store on Wednesday and lighter rain promised for Thursday. You’ll need the wellies!

5. Dress appropriately

While fashion shows do take place at the Ploughing, no one wants to be walking around in shorts or a skirt with their legs covered in mud.

So, dress appropriately. There’s rain promised and things are sure to get mucky. Throw on the jeans, bring a good waterproof jacket and a cap. Umbrellas are optional.

6. Bringing a child to the Ploughing

If you’re bringing the kids to the Ploughing, keep your eyes on them.

It will be easy for them to get lost with thousands of people thronging around the Screggan site.

Think about writing your mobile number on the back of their hand so that you’ll be called in the event of them getting lost.

7. Charge your phone

If you get separated from the group you’re with at the Ploughing, you’ll want to get back in touch with them or your family in that case.

Have the phone fully charged in case you need to call the people you’ve been separated from, in case you want to take selfies and for the Irish Farmers Journal Ploughing app – where you’ll find everything you need.

8. Get free pens

‘You can never collect too many free pens’ – unknown

Free pens are a given at the Ploughing. You can never have too many pens. Not strictly a survival tip, but very handy to know.

Be it form-filling for the Department of Agriculture or signing cheques, there’s always a time when a free pen will come in handy. I think 72 pens is a record at the Ploughing.

9. Free hi-vis vests

The Irish Farmers Journal will have another free 50,000 hi-vis vests at this year’s Ploughing, with thanks to our partners FBD and the RSA.

Farm safety is of paramount importance, so be sure to pick up your vest at the Ploughing.

10. Know where the exhibitors are

If you’re going to the Ploughing and wondering where the exhibitor you really want to see is, then look no further than the Ploughing app.

The A-Z of exhibitors is listed on it, as well as events such as sheep shearing and livestock demos – ensuring that you don’t miss a thing at the Ploughing.

Read more

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