Farmers have always done three things – buy the Irish Farmers Journal, vote Fine Gael and drive a jeep.

Well it appears that only the first one of them is now being adhered to. The Dealer was speaking to a knowledgeable fellow in the motor industry who assured him the sale of two-seater vans are steaming ahead of jeep, 4x4s, and vehicles of those ilk, although official figures suggest otherwise. Why? A two-seater van is still handy on the commercial tax and is, in my case, easier on the fuel. Saying that, you mightn’t get too far with six bullocks in a trailer behind your van compared to the jeep.