The National Plouging Association has announced it is bringing back one of the most popular competitions this year - “The National Brown Bread Baking Competition”.

The competition, which is sponsored by Aldi in association with the Irish Countrywomen's Association (ICA), has proven to be a great success since it returned to the Ploughing in 2014.

Last year's winner was Margaret Sexton from Co Roscommon who participated in the competition for the "glory of winning". We filmed Margaret receiving her award for our live blog from the Ploughing last September.

This year’s prize pot will increase significantly to over €15,000, with the winner receiving €5,000 in cash. The winner will also have the prestige of selling their bread in Aldi stores throughout the country and receiving at least €5,000 worth of profits when their bread is stocked in stores.

The qualifiers of the competition are currently being held nationwide through the ICA, with 27 finalists taking part in the regional final in An Grianán in Co Louth on 4 August.

The semi-finals and finals of the competition will then take place live in the Aldi Marquee at this year’s 85th National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly, which takes place from 20 September to 22 September.

NPA managing director Anna May McHugh said, “We are delighted to be renewing our partnership with Aldi and the ICA given the popularity and success of the brown bread baking competition at Ploughing 2015. The total attendance figures for the 2015 Ploughing Championship came to a record breaking 281,000 and this year’s championships look set to be bigger and better than ever.”