The National Ploughing Championships (NPC) in Ratheniska, Co. Laois, has officially kicked off this morning (Tuesday, September 17), with multiple panel discussions and a live podcast taking place at the Agriland tent today.
Agriland Media Group will deliver 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.
Agriland is the official livestream partner for the NPC and from 1:00p.m each day at Block 3, Row 15, Stand 289, we will be hosting a series of live panel discussions and podcasts which are free to attend.
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.
Ploughing 2024 at Agriland tent
The first panel discussion at 1:00p.m will feature 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 will discuss 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 will reveal 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 will host 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 will host a Farm Finance live podcast at approximately 2:00p.m which will feature 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 will be on stage to discuss key farming issues, including the future of the sector and supports necessary in the upcoming Budget 2025.
Agriland will also discuss the three-day visit of a team from the EU’s Environment Directorate to Ireland which will focus on water quality and the nitrates derogation with Minister McConalogue in the one-on-one interview in the Agriland tent today.