The Ploughing Championships are an annual opportunity for the nation to take stock of the state of farming and rural Ireland through the prism of the media. It’s fair to say the reports this year are concluding that farming is in rare rude health.

The first vibe check at the Ploughing is always the weather. Tuesday was better than expected, the going underfoot was good.

It then rained all night Tuesday, but cleared up as people were returning to the Screggan site on Wednesday morning.

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It all fed into the good feeling caused by farmers having a few bob in their pockets for a change.

Ministers and presidential candidates were a common sight at coffee docks as people worked their way around the exhibition area. It seemed that the entire Fianna Fáil front bench made a pitstop in Screggan on the way back from the party’s Cork think-in.

Jack Chambers drank tea, expressed sympathy for the plight of tillage farmers – the one sector currently in financial dire straits – but he offered very little by way of hope that money might be forthcoming.

The same was true of Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who was understanding of the issues, but gave the distinct impression to watchers that all hatches are being battened down.

It was here that Humphreys forced her advantage with the farming vote, saying that it was an issue close to her heart as a mother of two daughters on a family farm

The presidential candidates were more forthcoming. It was hard to tell if Heather Humphreys was running for president of Ireland or IFA president from the way she pivoted a question about the nitrates derogation into a swipe at calendar farming.

Rural roots

Jim Gavin stressed his west Clare roots, with no sign of the white trousers that tickled the nation when he wore them in his campaign video from a farm.

Catherine Connolly was more low-key, adopting a wait-and-see approach to the generational renewal proposals announced on Tuesday.

It was here that Humphreys forced her advantage with the farming vote, saying that it was an issue close to her heart as a mother of two daughters on a family farm.

The winds began to blow pretty strongly as the halfway point of the three days arrived at lunchtime on Wednesday. Any breeze sounds like a hurricane when you are in a marquee, and a few people were reminded of 2018 and Storm Ali.

However, like the political discourse, there might be some blowing, but it’s all within the bounds of acceptability.

2025 – the year of the pleasant Ploughing.