Day two of the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, Co. Laois saw 90,500 in attendance.
It is a significant increase of 18,700 people when compared with day two of Ploughing 2023, which saw 71,800 in attendance.
This brings the total number that have attended the two days of this years championships to 166,000.
Both days so far this year have seen people enjoying the warm temperatures, without a single cloud in the sky spotted where the ploughing competitors are underway at the 180ac ploughing site.
Visitors to the NPC also came to Block 3, Row 15, Stand 289 where Agriland is hosting a series of live panel discussions and podcasts which are free to attend.
Agriland is the official livestream partner for the NPC livestream and podcasts will also be available on YouTube, the Agriland website or app, and Facebook.
Our first panel discussion today – ‘From The Ground Up’ – at 1:00p.m brought the vice president of the Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association (INHFA), John Joe Fitzgerald and Michael Moroney, research director of the Irish Farm & Forestry Contractors, together live on stage to examine the key issues facing farmers on a daily basis.
During our second panel discussion – ‘Why Food Producers Matter from approximately 1:20p.m, we heard from the CEO Office of An Rialálaí Agraibhia (Agri-Food Regulator), Niamh Lenehan together with John Murray, Bord Bia director, meat, food and beverages and also Roy Gallie, chair of the IFA National Pigs Committee.
Today, on our third panel at approximately 1:40p.m, we spoke to both the Minister of State with responsibility for Land Use and Biodiversity, Pippa Hackett and Minister of State with responsibility for Research and Development, Farm Safety and New Market Development, Martin Heydon.
Our podcast today focused on ‘Young Farmers and the Future’ where we heard from Macra national president’s Elaine Houlihan and Donal Phelan, a farmer who is one of the success stories from Macra’s Land Mobility Generational Renewal, Facilitation and Support Service, and Chris Cahill from Cavan, the 2024 FBD Young Farmer of the Year Winner.
Tomorrow, for the final day of our coverage, whether you plan to attend the ploughing in person or catch up later, you can make sure that you do not miss any of the major action from each day by staying tuned to the Agriland app, or by visiting us at Block 3, Row 15, Stand 289.
We want to make sure that visitors of all ages can be part of the conversation at this year’s National Ploughing Championships and are invited to get involved in the podcasts each day.
Our team of reporters will also be out and about hearing from families, exhibitors, politicians, industry leaders and many more.