With days to go before Dairy Day 2018, preparations are in full swing at Punchestown event centre near Naas in Co Kildare.

Dairy Day is organised by the Irish Farmers Journal in conjunction with Bord Bia and takes place next Tuesday 20 November. There are more than 65 exhibitors booked in, making it the largest event for dairy farmers in Ireland. Last year, more than 3,000 farmers attended the event, which is a mix of trade stands, seminars and demonstrations with experts from Ireland and overseas.

An extra stage has been added this year, with Journal vet Tommy Heffernan showing how to build the ideal calf shed. Aidan Brennan will run the skills hub, with experts from Ireland and the US doing 30-minute sessions on the essential skills to be a dairy farmer. Jack Kennedy has experts from around the world looking at consumer trends, market analysis and asks what is coming down the line in environmental regulations.

The list of exhibitors is detailed in the special Dairy Day supplement with site map in this week’s issue.

The list of exhibitors includes energy companies, milking equipment, banks, milk processors, farm machinery, dairy supplies, building suppliers, animal health companies, bedding suppliers and farm service providers. It is also a Knowledge Transfer-approved event.