‘The Future of Farming’ will take centre stage at the AIB Stand at the National Ploughing Championships next week.

Attendees will be treated to a series of informative ‘Shed Talks’ on the future of agribusiness and rural life in Ireland and a vision of the latest cutting edge agricultural technology through the ‘Future Wall’.

The AIB Stand will be open on all three days of the National Ploughing Championships and a dedicated team of Agri Advisors will be on hand at all times to support farming customers with assistance and guidance on their business and personal finance needs.

On each day of the National Ploughing Championships, AIB will be hosting a series of thought-provoking ‘Shed Talks’.

Chaired by RTE’s ‘Ear to the Ground’ presenter Helen Carroll, the ‘Shed Talks’ will bring together agricultural experts and high profile guests to discuss a wide range of topics relating to the future of farming in Ireland and abroad.

Ploughing Day One

Headlining the ‘Shed Talks’ on Tuesday September 20 will be ‘Powering the Future’, an insightful examination of the potential of renewable energy with Denis Buckley of SgurrEnergy and Elaine Traynor of Philip Lee Solicitors.

Also on Tuesday, ‘Leading the Pack’, a conversation with Irish Rugby legend and farmer John Hayes, and ‘Farm Fit’, tips and advice on maintaining a healthy lifestyle with Pat Divilly will take place.

Ploughing Day Two

On Wednesday September 21, ‘Shed Talks’ will kick off with ‘The Next Generation’, a chat with Young Farmer of the Year Kevin Moran and beef farmer Tommy Moyles.

This will be followed by specific discussions relating to the future of agribusiness in Ireland including ‘Outlook for the Agri Sector’ with Joe Healy, IFA President and Tadhg Buckley, AIB Agri Advisor.

There will also be a talk on the ‘Potential for Trade’ with Seaver Izatt, member of the visiting New Zealand Trade and Enterprise delegation.

‘Brexit: The Challenges and Opportunities’ will be the last ‘Shed Talk’ on Wednesday, with Mairead McGuinness, MEP, John Comer, ICMSA, Joe Burke, Bord Bia and Donal Whelton, AIB Agri Advisor discussing the challenges and opportunities facing the Irish agriculture industry following the UK’s EU Referendum vote.

Ploughing Day Three

The final set of ‘Shed Talks’ on Thursday September 22 will begin with ‘Balancing Passions’, a conversation with Westmeath GAA’s John Heslin and Monaghan GAA’s Darren Hughes.

Imen McDonnell will deliver a talk on women in farming and adapting to rural life. ‘Shed Talks’ concludes with ‘Farm 2020’, where suppliers of products on the ‘Futures Wall’ will discuss their vision of the future of farming.

AIB’s Future Wall at the Ploughing

The innovative ‘Future Wall’ will display products from Inspect4, a hydraulic hoof pairing crate, MooCall, a calving alert monitor, Lely, an automated cow milking system, FarmFlo, software for tracking farm records and Dairymaster’s MooMonitor, a wireless sensor which monitors the health of cows as well as a grasshopper from True North Technologies.

With the focus on the future of farming at the AIB Stand, AIB remains firmly committed to supporting the farming industry and working with their customers as they plan for the future.

The @AIBbiz Twitter account will provide information on AIB’s involvement at the National Ploughing Championships, including the ‘Shed Talk’ schedule and information on ‘Futures Wall’ products as well as the 2016 Ploughing App which is available to download from both the App Store and Google Play.

For more information on any of the farming supports AIB have in place visit www.aib.ie/farming You can visit AIB at the Ploughing Championships at Block 3, Row 19 Stand 440.