Day three of the Ploughing, I left the Lord Bagenal Hotel and followed the signs for the site – up the hill in Leighlinbridge and out towards Fenagh.

While it seemed to be level terrain; there opened off to the right a valley of cotton wool fog punctuated by grey bushy tree tops against a backdrop of gentle hills. It felt like I was driving on clouds.

White tents broke through and balloon markers rose up like lamp posts. It was a beautiful impression of the lovely, vibrant Co Carlow.

Hats off to the surrounding countryside, village and town dwellers who had the county looking so smart. It was a great event that ran like clockwork.

Record crowds again

There was a time when farmers thronged to the Ploughing to do business. With the internet at their fingertips, research is now easy. To stand and pause on one of the on-site roadways, which were twice the size of last year’s ones, was a sight indeed.

Record crowds filled the roadway and moved forward as one.

People rarely came off the roadway walking along aimlessly.

It would take a week to see all of the stands so one always goes home with that feeling of unfinished business meaning that Ploughing pilgrimage will be a must again next year.

So what brings us back? I think it might just be the opportunity to talk to our own people and feel the vibrancy of rural Ireland.

A general view of the large crowd on day two of the National Ploughing Championships. \ Donal O'Leary

Busloads of secondary school students emptied onto the site and all were well behaved. There was any amount of information for them to garner for their projects.

The Government section on Row 20 was extremely impressive. All the information was there for companies to get Brexit ready. You will find the Brexit Advisory Service at intertradeireland.com/Brexit.

I had a good chat with the people from the Central Statistics Office. Cathal looks after agriculture. I picked up a gorgeous little book Life in 1916 Ireland comparing the figures then and in 2016.

In 1916 we had 85.79% of land in grassland and 92% in 2016. Just a 6% change.

Next June, all farmers will get a survey out by post that we are statutorily bound to fill out and return. It is the first time that this is the case and it will give us accurate figures and information about our industry.

I chatted to Alan from mygov.ie who was promoting mywelfare.ie. Many welfare services can now be applied for online and personal contributions can also be viewed online.

You do need your Public Services Card to register your basic account first at www.mygovid.ie

Wellness, innovation and stories

The Wellness Tent was a good reminder of how to look after our health.

Contact HSELive to get practical advice on how to access services and schemes in the HSE. We often spend a lot of time looking for the right office. The National Dairy Council had a fine visual food pyramid made out of shelves and real food.

Any home economics student would have benefited from a look at it.

I visited the Teaching Council stand too where they are gearing up for FÉILTE, the annual Festival of Education in Learning and Teaching Excellence in Galway next weekend. I’m flattered to be the keynote speaker on inclusion.

There’s a nostalgia about the Ploughing

I had a pang of nostalgia as I passed The Irish Defence Forces stand thinking of Captain Philip O’Leary and his mates on peace keeping duty abroad. Mammies never change. I happened upon Kevin Brady from Offaly in the Innovation Tent who had a neat little tipping trailer that Philip and I would love for moving wood and small jobs. Look up Yard King Tipping Trailer.

There were so many things to see and do but the best of all were the stories told to us on the Irish Farmers Journal stand. It’s not easy sometimes to talk about the hurts and challenges in life but you are better for it.

There’s a nostalgia about the Ploughing. It marks the end of the summer and the beginning of the shorter days where farming is definitely harder.

The beef protests are finally ending with the creation of a Producer Group for beef farmers where the base price for cattle can finally be discussed.

Am I the only one wondering why this solution had never been put forward before?