The Dealer overheard that Teagasc decided late on Monday to stop the distribution of more than 10,000 leaflets at the grazing and feed demonstration on its Ploughing stand.

I understand this was due to the inclusion of details on peat bedding as an option for livestock farmers – seemingly not environmentally friendly enough due to associated carbon emissions. On the upside, shredding the 10,000 leaflets might be a more renewable option for bedding.

Two Ploughing exhibitors selling peat bedding reported a flying start to the season. In the south, Peat Bedding has seen sales go up 30% on last year from its bases in Wicklow and Cork – though they don’t know yet if farmers are buying more, or just earlier.

Co Monaghan-based Peat Bed has harvested more than twice the usual amount of peat to face rising demand, with both companies saying farmers are drawn to the product by high straw prices.