The Department of Agriculture has designated 2017 as the Year of Sustainable Grassland, but it seems the humble plough is not sustainable enough.

The Dealer was surprised and alarmed to hear that the Department forbade the Irish Grassland Association from using the plough as one of the cultivating methods at a reseeding demonstration it is organising next week in Tipperary.

Surprised because ploughing is the method of choice for most farmers when reseeding grassland and alarmed because The Dealer is wondering if this is a sign of things to come? If ploughing is banned, what will we call that gathering of farmers every year in late September? The Min-tilling?