Traffic built up early this Tuesday morning on what promises to be the driest of the three days of this year’s Ploughing Championships.

Exhibitors were putting the last touches to their stands as the sun rose on the site, with just a small amount of mud forming along roadways, but generally good conditions all around.

The builders who have been piecing the exhibition together for the past month said it was another story last week, with difficult weather conditions for much of the preparations.

Listen to some of the earliest people to make it to the gates of the Ploughing in our podcast below:

Quad calves

Among those getting ready for Ireland’s largest farming event were the rare quadruplet calves born earlier this year on Tom Clair’s farm in Maghera, Lahinch, Co Clare.

Opening public statements set the mood, with speakers showing both optimism and a note of caution. Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed announced a welcome €160m ANC payment run for farmers in disadvantaged areas.

The constant downward pressure that devalues food is simply unsustainable

But IFA president Joe Healy warned: “The Ploughing Championships is a showcase for the sector and should be about the central role of farmers and their families in our largest indigenous industry. Yet increasingly, farmers are cast to the margins and are being exploited by retailers and processors. The constant downward pressure that devalues food is simply unsustainable.”

This is being compounded by the threat of Brexit, with Irish farmers losing up to €2m per week when the sterling exchange rate hit rock bottom following last year’s UK referendum, he added. Healy also warned that uncertainty for the future of farming, questioning succession plans which see fewer young people likely to take over farms.

Irish Farmers Journal demonstrations

All visitors to the Ploughing are invited to take part in the livestock demonstrations as well as Neven Maguire’s live cookery masterclasses at the Irish Farmers Journal stand.

Even The Dealer is ready for three days of agricultural extravaganza.

To make your visit easier, make sure to download our Ploughing app and you can see where you parked on site.

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