19:08

That's it from the Ploughing today, we'll be back with another live blog and video streams tomorrow. The forecast is for showers at first but tomorrow, but Met Éireann says it will become mainly dry in the southern half of the country later in the afternoon, with maximum temperatures of 13 to 15°C and fresh to strong west to southwest wind.

18:44

At the end of a very political day at the Ploughing, Fine Gael has a strong lead among farmers surveyed in this week's Irish Farmers Journal poll.

Read more here and in tomorrow's paper

18:00

The Minister for Agriculture

elle O’Neill today jointly announced the ending of pre-movement brucellosis testing on both sides of the border, starting 28 September 2015.

Read more

17:40

400 buses were used to bring people to Ratheniska today!

17:35

Record numbers for day two of the Ploughing.

17:30

17:21

Minister of State Ann Phelan has welcomed the first payments being issued from the Department of Agriculture’s €1million Rural Innovation and Development Fund, which was designed to support innovative and small scale pilot initiatives under the CEDRA report.

The fund for pilot projects is being utilised to support four major initiatives underway in rural areas:

  • Aid for female rural entrepreneurs through the “Acorns” programme.

  • Support for social farming operations.

  • Support for community based food and artisan markets.

  • Agri-food related Tourism Initiatives in the Local Authorities.

    • 17:18

    17:01

    This video captures the sheer scale of the Ploughing site - it's pretty impressive!

    16:51

    Weather conditions have been mixed during the Ploughing and that trend is set to continue tomorrow. According to Met Éireann, there will be sunny spells but scattered blustery showers and highs of 13 to 15C degrees. Our advice - pack a raincoat and remember your wellies.

    16:40

    16:37

    Ah Marty...

    16:29

    "You can get sick of looking at machinery..." #OverheardAtThePloughing

    16:21

    The sun has decided to make an appearance after the rain earlier on. Very busy on the site.

    16:06

    15:59

    15:47

    UCD's Alan Kelly and Michael Doran enjoying themselves at the Ploughing.

    15:25

    Rural crime has been a growing concern in communities across the country. What are the Gardaí doing about it? Here is Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan's answer during her visit to the National Ploughing Championships.

    15:17

    Watch Neven Maguire's cookery demo live from our stand now.

    15:07

    Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams will be arriving at the Ploughing site.

    15:04

    Kilkenny's TJ Reid got a hot towel shave in our livestock ring today.

    14:47

    Here are some more details on the €30m scheme announced today by An Taoiseach.

    €30m scheme announced at the Ploughing

    14:30

    The Irish Hereford Society is promoting its calf show at the Ploughing. Pictured is Denis Kirby, Goldenvale Marts; Liam Philpott, Hereford Society; Denis Brennan, Slaney Foods; Nigel Heatrick; Joe Deverell; Don O'Brien, ABP Nenagh; Niall O'Mahoney, Chairman of Irish Hereford Prime; Willy Brannigan.

    14:23

    Meanwhile...

    14:20

    Traffic seems to be moving much better today - even though there are more people on site!

    14:14

    Dairymaster software engineer Michael Ryan demonstrates the Swiftflo Commander computerised milking system, which won the overall Innovation Arena award at the National Ploughing Championships.

    14:11

    They were at our stand!

    14:01

    Here's something else that goes on at the Ploughing

    13:55

    Our livestream is back up and running - watch the 2pm livestock demo on the livestream below:

    13:43

    Don't think there'll be much use for these today but you never know - we're only halfway through day two of Ploughing 2015

    13:29

    The clouds have broken and tis torrential outside now! #Ploughing2015

    13:28

    Coveney confirms that GLAS is to open on week begining 12 October 2015

    13:21

    First up was An Taoiseach Enda Kenny who arrived in the press tent at 8.30am this morning - the taoiseach said that ways to tackle rural crime include information and community alerts, facilities for Gardaí to be able to do their jobs and working with communities.

    13:01

    Rain is falling in Ratheniska. We hope it doesn't become torrential!

    12:29

    Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney getting hands on at the #Movember launch this morning

    12:15

    12:03

    All the @IrelandsFarmers contributors are meeting in the IFA stand now for a “tweet-up” – yes that’s a play on the word “meet-up”

    11:38

    Our #Movember launch is taking place at 11:45am this morning

    11:24

    Eamon Ó'Cuív gives a technical briefing on Fianna Fáil's agricultural policy which includes pre-announcement of all inspections.

    11:19

    Conditions in the US and in China were high on the agenda of the Irish Farmers Journal breakfast briefing at the National Ploughing Championships this morning.

    11:08

    Our vintage editor Michael Moroney promoting the use of selfie sticks at #Ploughing2015

    11:06

    Fianna Fáil Agriculture Spokesperson Éamon Ó Cuív TD is hosting a technical briefing on the party’s Agriculture policy, “Securing Fair Prices and Increased Profitability for Farmers” at the National Ploughing Championships now - updates to follow soon

    10:57

    Neven Maguire cookery demonstration about to go live on the Irish Farmers Journal YouTube channel

    10:55

    Supervisors parading the plots at Ploughing 2015

    10:38

    Watch: The overall winner of the Farmyard Awards - Sean Treacy from Paradise, Co Wexford - receives his prize on Monday evening in the Irish Farmers Journal stand at Ploughing 2015

    10:35

    We'll also be livestreaming the Neven Maguire cooking demonstration at 11am - stay tuned for updates

    10:23

    The clouds are starting to look menacing

    10:14

    Watch: Our livestock demonstrations at 10am, noon and 2pm will be livestreamed from the video below. Keep an eye of the demos throughout the day

    9:57

    This was the Ploughing site at 7:30 this morning - the place looks quite different now!

    9:50

    Insect selfie competition happening at the Rentokil stand now - only at Ploughing 2015

    9:35

    Glanbia Agribusiness has a few calves in the backseat - hope they have their seatbelts on!

    9:16

    The sun is peeking through the clouds now in Ratheniska now. Temperatures of 15C. Crowds are making their way in. Over 100,000 people are expected to come to the site today.

    8:56

    Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney says the government will look at the fairest way to distribute the €30m CEDRA package to rural communities over the next few months.

    8:50

    8:49

    8:48

    An Taoiseach Enda Kenny is currently holding a press conference in the NPA tent. Updates to follow soon

    8:47

    We started this morning with the Irish Farmers Journal breakfast briefing

    8:45

    Good morning from the Farmers Journal online team. We're here in Ratheniska Co Laois for day two of the National Ploughing Championships and we'll be keeping you updated on all of today's main events as they happen. Skies remained clear yesterday and we're hoping for similar weather today.