The Sustainable Livestock Village has become a key part of the Tullamore Show, providing farmers with practical advice, demonstrations and farmer-led discussions, focused on improving sustainability and building resilience on Irish livestock farms.

Built on the principle of offering a ‘one-stop shop’ for visitors, the village, supported by FBD, brings together all relevant organisations under one roof, including Bord Bia, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Teagasc, the Agri-Food Regulator, Animal Health Ireland, ICBF, Macra na Feirme, Meat Industry Ireland, National Dairy Council and the Irish Farmers Journal.

Farmer-led discussions are central to the village through the speakers’ corner, livestock demonstrations and interactive displays on water quality and soil health.

The village also demonstrates the considerable efforts being made by farmers across the country to enhance the sustainability of their farms.

Key features for 2026

In 2026, the Sustainable Livestock Village is focused on a number of key sustainability topics, including:

  • Highlighting the role of women in agriculture.
  • Importance of generation renewal.
  • Practical solutions to address climate, water quality and nature challenges.

    • Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, will deliver an address outlining his sustainability priorities and the importance of Ireland’s presidency of the EU.

    The Sustainable Livestock Village showcases the practical steps farmers are taking to enhance farm sustainability and reduce the environmental impact of their farms.

    Celebrating the International Year of the Woman Farmer

    The need for generation renewal to secure the future of family farming in Ireland has never been greater. Ireland’s co-sponsorship of the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 represents an important and timely initiative to advance gender equality across the agri-food sector.

    The 2026 Sustainable Livestock Village is prioritising generation renewal and women in agriculture through its speakers’ corner and a standalone discussion forum.

    The focus on generation renewal will involve Macra na Feirme and industry highlighting initiatives in place and supports needed to encourage more young people into farming. This session will hear first-hand from farmers who have been through farm succession.

    Meanwhile, industry representatives will detail their approach to supporting the next generation of family farming in Ireland.

    The Women in Agriculture discussion forum will celebrate the role of women, highlight challenges and outline solutions through a panel discussion involving women working across the sector, including Ireland’s Ambassador for the International Year of the Woman Farmer, Carina Roseingrave.

    Practical discussions

    Speakers’ corner, in partnership with FBD, has firmly established itself as delivering practical, farmer-led discussions across a number of important areas.

    Throughout the day, a series of short discussions will take place involving farmers and experts sharing their experiences and advice across a range of topics. This year, four moderated discussions will take place:

  • Generational renewal: shared experiences on farm succession and industry efforts to encourage young people into farming.
  • Why sustainability matters: discussion on the policy, market, industry and farming perspective when it comes to the importance of sustainability.
  • Bridging the gap between farmers and consumers: discussion on the challenges faced by the sector to engage consumers on Irish farming and food production, with an emphasis on current initiatives and future plans to address this.
  • Protecting water quality: focus on practical solutions to supporting farmers to protect water quality through the Better Farming for Water campaign and catchment programmes.

    • Livestock demonstrations

    The village will include a livestock display to allow farmers to see the first-hand impact of genetics and animal health on animal performance. The demonstrations in 2026 will include a series of short discussions throughout the day from the ICBF and Animal Health Ireland, highlighting the productivity and financial benefits for farmers of focusing on both areas.

    Macra national president Josephine O'Neill speaking in the Sustainable Livestock Village at the 2025 Tullamore Show.

    Water quality focus

    The village will include an outdoor display from Teagasc focused on soil health and water quality. The display will highlight practical measures farmers can take and bring to life, with support and advice available.

    Reducing emissions

    Teagasc will outline some of the actions farmers can use to boost farm sustainability, including reducing age at first calving, genetics and bull selection. They will highlight the financial benefit of these actions, such as how the top 20% CBV calves can return €170 more at slaughter.

    Bord Bia will also outline how farmers can develop an AGNAV action plan for their farm, focused on areas that offer potential to reduce emissions and boost farm performance.

    Interactive features

    Each participating organisation will have interactive features to demonstrate the ‘so what’ to visitors, including the financial impact of the adoption of various practices.

    Photography competition

    This year also sees the return of the successful photography competition in partnership with the Irish Farmers Journal, with a total of €1,200 in prizes. The competition invited entries for the following three categories:

  • Celebrating women in agriculture.
  • Generations working together: farming for the future.
  • Sustainable farming in action.

    • A selection of entries will be displayed on a ‘photo wall’ in the village, with winners announced on the day.