On Monday, Monaghan's Nigel Renaghan formally declared his candidacy for IFA deputy president, followed by Kildare's Pat Farrell who handed in his completed nomination form on Tuesday.

Limerick's Richard Kennedy is also expected to formally join the race today, Wednesday 3 February, with nominations for all positions closing at 5.30pm later this evening.

Ratified by Kildare IFA in January, Farrell was the national environment chair from 2008-2012, and is the current Kildare chair.

“I am delighted to announce I am running for the deputy presidency of the Irish Farmers’ Association.

“If elected, I will seek to reform the organisation so that it remains relevant to the concerns of Irish farmers and continues to fight retailers and processors for a fairer return for farm families,” Farrell said.

Last January, Farrell was one of the four men who presented a motion of no confidence in Pat Smith to the IFA’s executive council.

Farrell is a full-time farmer with his brother Tom, wife Caroline and four children.

Joining Reneghan in the race

Farrell now joins Reneghan in the race, who has served as national poultry chairman of the IFA since 2012. The 45 year old father of six spoke about his candidacy on Monday.

"As a poultry and beef farmer myself, I know how much of a struggle farming in Ireland has become, especially for the younger generation of farmers who often find that despite working 12 or 13 hour days, supporting a family on a farm income is barely a viable proposition.

"Now, more than ever, all farmers both full time and part time, needs a strong, united, and effective national organisation to represent them.

"My mission is to bring a new generation of leadership to the IFA, and a new generation of members into our ranks. The IFA must get younger, more passionate, more engaged, and more member-focused. As deputy president, my mission will be to restore our organisational strength," he said.

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Full coverage: IFA elections 2016

Three nominees for deputy president