Over the course of the three days of the National Ploughing Championships, the Irish Farmers Journal’s news team will host a number of panel discussions with politicians including Government ministers, MEPs and more.

Led by political correspondent Pat O’Toole, the upcoming budget, the general election, the future of farming and the environment will all feature in these panel discussions.

Drop in at 12.30pm each day to make sure you catch all of the news and views.

MEPS Billy Kelleher, FF, Colm Markey, FG and Chris MacManus, SF pictured speaking at the Panel Session on the EU Vision for Agriculture, EU Schemes and Proposals in 2023. \ Donal O' Leary

Machinery Q&A

Machinery has always been part and parcel of the exhibits at the Ploughing.

While we don’t have any shiny metal on our stand, we do have Peter Thomas Keaveney and Gary Abbott who can answer all of your machinery and equipment questions.

Demonstration and fun

Their demonstration and fun machinery challenge will take place at 2.30pm Tuesday and Wednesday and 3pm on Thursday, when they will discuss how technology and precision farming solutions are changing how we farm for the better, now and into the future.

The pair will also take a look at the future for the machinery industry at a time of increasing costs.

Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue speaks during the Irish Farmers Journal Tech Talk panel discussion at the National Ploughing Championships 2023 in Ratheniska, Co Laois. \ Philip Doyle