Unfortunately I’m a little hoarse this morning. It could have to do with the fact I was standing in a field for the last three days. It could however have more to do with talking to so many of the 124,499 other people who stood in the same 800 acre Ratheniska field on Wednesday alone.

Ireland truly does revolve around agriculture, and on “ploughing” week everybody in the country seems to want to be a part of the farming scene. Given the 279,500 total attendance over the three days, not everyone there was a farmer.

All walks of life were in attendance from the President down. Admittedly it was a mostly rural audience but many had no direct connection to agriculture. It was great to see but I believe there is a section of society for whom a visit to the National Ploughing Championships should be compulsory.

What was obvious, to me at least, was how in the midst of the social aspects and all the sponsored razzmatazz, the majority of the stands showcased innovation and new technology. It wasn’t all about the biggest machine, it was about how it was designed. Big might attract a crowd for a photo but the real farmer talk was about efficiency and making the job easier.

Climate change

On Tuesday I recorded a piece for the Vincent Browne Show on farmers’ interaction with climate change. Then on Wednesday I was a guest on “The Last Word” with Matt Cooper on how farmers use new technology. Farmers are on the front line dealing with any effects of climate change and have always led the way in adapting to new ideas. Meanwhile, in New York a mix of celebrities, politicians and a few experts were debating our global response to climate change.

Similar to what I’ve written before, I’m not sure how many of those talking about farmers needing to become “climate smart” actually realise how much innovation and technology farmers are already using. Many Irish politicians and civil servants were in attendance in Laois, and I they hope saw what I saw.

Unfortunately I think it is unlikely the people who complain most about Irish agriculture turned up. I hope they were listening to and reading the media reports all this week and realise how carbon efficiency and business go hand in hand in farming.

To paraphrase one Irish politician, the National Ploughing Championships was “a great little field to do business”.