IFA regional director Adrian King returned armed with rolls for everyone at about 7.45am.

They were welcome, but in truth the night had sounded wild but actually been fairly mild. Eighty farmers were in place around Slaney meats in Clohamon, Co Wexford, to greet the new day. The mood was fairly good, and food never hurts.

The conversation around the tar barrel had centred around two themes – the current impasse over price, and the previous blockade of 2000. That action saw the IFA lose in the High Court, where fines of £100,000 a day (old money!) were imposed, but win in the court of public opinion.

The escalation of the daily penalty to half a million punts saw IFA’s senior officers step down. It only strengthened farmers’ resolve, and the factories soon gave in to the farmer demands, which actually were not particularly onerous.

Initial cynicism from some about the purpose of a 24-hour protest fell away as that strange time was recalled.

I asked finishers about the prices being paid for young stock. They make little sense on the face of it, particularly if the factories cannot be trusted to pass back an appropriate margin to the finisher.

The answer was the same over and over. Finishers are caught in a bind – buy cattle at high prices and be at the mercy of the factory, or stop buying cattle, and be at the mercy of the taxman. Stock relief built up over the years would all be clawed back if cattle are not purchased to replace stock being slaughtered.

I left with the weather still holding, but with storm clouds gathering. A portent for the farmer/factory relationship this winter? Let’s hope not.