75,500 people attended the first day of the National Ploughing Championships (NPC) today (Tuesday, September 17), the National Ploughing Association (NPA) confirmed.
This in an increase from 66,250 on day one in 2023, up 9,250 from last year.
The sunshine was no doubt a factor in the crowds that came to Ratheniska, Co. Laois today for the 92nd ploughing championships.
Agriland Media Group is delivering a combination of exclusive livestream panel discussions with industry leaders, farmers, ministers and also podcasts focusing on key issues for farm families over the three-day event.
The record for the highest attendance was set in 2019, when 297,000 attended across the three days.
The Agriland pavilion is located at Block 3, Row 15, Stall 289, and Agriland will host the official livestream for each of the three days of the Ploughing from 1:00p.m to 3:00p.m.
During that time, there will be a range of live discussions, podcasts and interviews in the Agriland pavilion, which is open to the public, right in the centre of the Ploughing site.
Visitors of all ages are invited to get involved in the podcasts each day. The livestream and podcasts will also be available on YouTube, the Agriland website or app, and Facebook.
The first panel discussion took place earlier this afternoon at 1:00p.m which featured the presidents of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), Francie Gorman, Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA), Denis Drennan, and Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA), Sean McNamara.
Agriland editor Stella Meehan discussed pressing issues for farmers with the three leaders of the farm organisations, including costs pressures, future planning, environmental responsibility and scheme payments.
During the second panel from 1:20p.m, Agriland revealed the results of a comprehensive independent survey, commissioned by Agriland and the ICMSA, and conducted by Opinions Research, which involved over 1,500 ‘decision makers’ on farms.
From 1:40p.m today, Agriland hosted a ‘Let’s talk tillage’ panel discussion with the chair of the IFA national grain committee, Kieran McEvoy, the chair of the Irish Grain Growers Group (IGGG), Bobby Miller and the ICSA tillage chair, Gavin Carberry.
Agriland also hosted a Farm Finance live podcast at 2:00p.m which featured AIB’s head of agriculture, food and fishing, Donal Whelton, Bank of Ireland’s head of agri, Eoin Lowry and the chair of Cultivate Credit Unions agri-finance, Joe Healy.
In the final panel discussion at 2:40p.m today, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue was on stage to discuss key farming issues, including the future of the sector and supports necessary in the upcoming Budget 2025.
Anyone who visits the Agriland stand at this year’s NPC can also enter a competition to win the use of a Merlo Multifarmer Telescopic Handler for a year.
The lucky winner will have the free use of a Merlo Multifarmer telescopic handler from mid-January to mid-December 2025 or for 1,000 recorded operating hours, whichever comes first.
The machine is a telescopic handler equipped with a three-point rear linkage, rear mechanical PTO, and a hydraulic pick-up hitch, making it ideal for handling, towing, and light field tasks.
All you have to do to enter the competition is call to the Agriland tent and sign up for a free Agriland newsletter.