The Dealer hears that Massey Ferguson, Fendt and Valtra will not be attending the Ploughing this year, instead choosing to host their own field and demo days. However, it is understood that their local dealer agents will be there to represent the brands.

The move is interesting, given that I hear there is going to be a machinery demo area in the trade arena for the first time this year.

While stands for Ploughing 19 are officially sold out, I’ve been reliably informed that space will be found for another few if there is demand.

I also hear that water has been found on the site, and it seems Anna May will deliver on rural broadband for Fenagh by September.

Last year, the Ploughing made a loss of almost €500,000 after Storm Ali cancelled the second day. Opening on the Friday incurred additional costs for the NPA, while numbers attending on day two were down by 50%.

New Aurivo dryer to open this week

On Friday Aurivo Co-op is set to unveil its latest investment in milk processing, with the official launch of its recent spray dryer purchase. Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed is set to head for Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon to cut the ribbon. The new development comes after a small fire caused some damage to facilities in 2017, after which management decided to further improve capacity, quality of product and plant flexibility.

Mount Uniacke tractor run for charity

The Mount Uniacke tractor run takes place for the third year running on Sunday, 4 August.

Some 320 tractors took part in the event last year. It is in aid of the Cork Mental Health Foundation and Housing Association as well as the Irish Heart Foundation.

Registration starts at 11am in the village of Mount Uniacke, outside Killeagh in east Cork. Food and refreshments will be provided on the day for all taking part. There will also be a kids raffle and auction later in the evening.

IFA economist role vacant, again

The Dealer hears that the IFA’s chief economist Dr Edel Kelly is leaving to return to UCD.

Having started on 18 June 2018, she has been with the IFA a little over a year and was hired to replace Rowena Dwyer.

From a farming background in Galway, Kelly has previously been a lecturer in economics at UCD’s school of agricultural science. During her time with the IFA, she retained her links with UCD for the academic year.

And while we’re on the subject of departures from the Irish Farm Centre, I hear Macra press officer Joe Coffey is off to become a researcher on The Late Late Show. Meanwhile, Macra’s events manager Kate Markey is off to IFP Media.

Dr Edel Kelly, IFA chief economist and IFA president Joe Healy. \ Finbarr O'Rourke

Glyphosate, Guinness and fake news

The Dealer was interested to hear that the campaign group Uplift had raised funds to erect a mobile billboard in Macroom, the home town of Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed.

The sign read: “Minister Michael Creed, what are you going to do about glyphosate in Guinness?”

The campaigners claimed they had detected glyphosate in several Guinness samples in Ireland, the UK, Germany, and France.

Intrigued, The Dealer did some detecting of my own, helped along by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.

Acceptable intake

Based on the highest level of glyphosate that Uplift found in Guinness (32.11 ng/ml), an average person would have to consume over 1,900 pints of Guinness every day over the space of a lifetime to exceed the European Union-set acceptable daily intake.

The FSAI added that no cereal samples taken in recent years have exceeded the maximum residue level.

Diageo told me that glyphosate is not sprayed on the barley supplied to St James’s Gate and that glyphosate was not detected in its routine testing of Guinness in independent accredited labs.

Shed painters not endorsed by Irish Farmers Journal

The Dealer was handed a flyer from a painting contractor last week and to my consternation, found it sported an Irish Farmers Journal logo on it.

The Dealer has reminded people often enough that this paper does not offer or endorse any kind of farm painting services.

Make sure to check the offerings of any salesperson thoroughly before handing over your hard-earned cash.

New IFA presidential contender?

I hear there is to be a meeting of the Tipperary IFA executive in Toomevara Hall, Co Tipperary, this Friday.

I’m told IFA treasurer and pig farmer Tim Cullinan will be throwing his name into the ring for the top job within the IFA in the December elections. Watch this space.