The National Ploughing Championships is celebrating its 94th year, but as the event gets under way in Screggan in Co Offaly, the 2025 renewal is less about showcasing all that is good and great about agriculture and more about highlighting the growing list of challenges threatening the future of many farmers.
The first inter-county ploughing contest took place in 1931, arising from an argument between two lifelong friends who each argued their respective counties had the best ploughmen.
This led to the the first National Ploughing contest in February that year on farmland in Athy.
Ninety-four years on the battleground is the same but the arguments and issues have evolved.
Read more: Up to 300,000 expected to attend Ploughing Championships in Offaly
Top of the list for 2025 is Ireland's nitrates derogation, with the clock ticking as it is due to expire at the end of the year.
Under the EU Nitrates Directive, farmers have to ensure the total amount of nitrogen from manure applied to their land does not exceed 170kg per hectare per year, however, Irish farmers have a derogation allowing use of up to 250kg.
Previously, improving water quality was the key metric determining whether an extension was granted, but now the European Commission is adding protection of habitats into the mix.
The change has sparked worry among the many Irish dairy farmers who, if they lose the extra allowance, would either have to acquire more land or reduce their herd sizes - both options that would lead to a huge financial burden and threaten farm viability.
Opposing the proposed trade deal between the EU and Mercosur countries is also high on the agenda of farm groups, who fear their markets being flooded by cheap South American beef.
Elsewhere, farmers are urging the Government to stand up for them against radical reforms of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (which would see a big chunk of ringfenced funding for farmers cut).
Any Government politician doing the rounds at Screggan this week can expect to be quizzed more than once on their stance on these various issues by the vocal element of the near 300,000 crowd.
Given the EU is seen as the main opponent on these issues, the European Union tent at the ploughing could be an interesting one to be a fly on the wall on across the three days.
The next generation
Then there's generational renewal; the growing issue of farm succession as the average age of an Irish farmer closes in on 60, with less than 6% under 35.
Last year the Department of Agriculture commissioned a report on generational renewal, with the findings due to be published at the National Ploughing Championships.
Any solutions will be eagerly anticipated by an ageing farming community, as well as the potential next generation.
Macra, the group representing younger farmers, has warned the barriers to entry to the profession are only getting higher.
The organisation says younger farmers struggle to access land, finance, and sufficient supports to make life on the farm viable for them.
Separately, the Irish Farmers' Association is expected to raise the situation in the tillage sector, which IFA President Francie Gorman said "is under huge pressure and will need immediate Government support if it is to survive".
These various challenges - as well as ongoing differences with the EU on policy direction - have been pretty much par for the course in recent years.
Higher food prices spark uncertainty
But an emerging issue has been spiking agricultural food prices, which the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) recently noted have been rising at a much higher rate in Ireland compared to other European countries.
This has been repeatedly reflected in official inflation figures over the past year, which have shown sharp double-digit percentage increases across beef, lamb, and dairy.
On one hand the rising prices are good for farmers in that they are getting more for their produce, however, they also note that their own input costs have shot up.
This means while there's the potential for profit, there's also higher volatility.
Agri-business accounting firm Ifac is launching a report on the state of the sector at the ploughing today, and its findings mirror some of the uncertainty in the air.
It notes an increase in the number of agri-businesses optimistic about their outlook for this year (up 25% on 2024), but also says nearly half of firms in the sector are holding back on investment due to that uncertainty.
While the Ifac figures suggest four out of five of these companies are reporting that not only have their input costs risen, but that they are still doing so!
Based on much of the above, I don't think it would be overly dramatic to suggest the state of the agricultural sector at the 2026 National Ploughing Championships could be vastly different to what we will see on display in Offaly this week.
Ploughing and politics
Screggan is the last real chance for farmers to make their case to ministers ahead of the Budget on 7 October.
And while they'll be doing that, roles will be reversed for the presidential hopefuls - with seasoned politicians and aspiring candidates putting on the wellies in a bid to convince farming and rural communities and sow the seeds of a successful presidential election win.
As the years have passed, the ploughing has become an increasingly important platform in the political sphere.
With its mid-September slot in the calendar cemented, it's developed into a potential launching pad for key elections held in the wake of the event.
And with the 2025 Presidential Election just over a month away, this year will be no different.
Expect announcements, farm-animal themed photo opps, and for the hopefuls to pull out all the stops to prove their worth to the rural voter.
Oh, and there'll be plenty of ploughing at this year's National Ploughing Championships - but you can be sure the age-old tradition of turning up the earth to prepare it for sowing won't be top-of-mind for many working on their own agendas at Screggan.
