That's a wrap on our live blog of day two of the National Ploughing Championships 2026. Thanks for tuning in.

We'll be back on Thursday morning for another packed schedule of events.

If you're heading to the Ploughing, be sure to drop by the Agriland tent at Block 4, Row 10, Stand 184.

91,000 people attended day two

91,000 people have attended the second day of the 2026 National Ploughing Championships.

This figure adds to the 77,000 that attended the event yesterday.

The figure for today is up by 6,000 on the 85,000 that attended on day two of last year's Ploughing.

Safe travels home to all those who turned out for the event.

The Agriland team has seen the length and breadth of the Ploughing 2026 site over the past two days.

Click through the images below for a quick look at what we have been up to:

'It's electric'

A visitor to the Ploughing chatted to Agriland about the atmosphere at the event.

Some of the cuisine on offer at Ploughing 2026

His order gets a 10/10 from us.

The crowds are starting to die off now on day two of Ploughing 2026, as the journeys home begin.

We're sure lots of memories have been made by those who attended today - and maybe some money spent too.

Soil, sweat and tug of war!

Take a look at those competing in the tug of war competitions.

Most Appropriately Dressed Lady of Ploughing 2026

Another worthy winner has been announced - Catia Banderas from Lisbon has taken the title of the Most Appropriately Dressed Lady of Ploughing 2026.

Most Appropriately Dressed Gent of Ploughing 2026

Co. Roscommon man Ronan Kelly has been announced as the Most Appropriately Dressed Gent at Ploughing 2026 - and it is a very well-deserved title.

Have you seen Machine of the Year yet?

Manitou's MLT 625 e battery-powered compact telehandler has been crowned Machine of the Year at Ploughing 2026.

The judges were particularly impressed by how the machine lined up against its diesel-powered equivalent, with similar dimensions, capacities, and performance being noted.

Agriland caught up Manitou UK's sales support manager, James Hulme, who said the MT range of 625 is "our biggest seller in the UK and Ireland, it's the most popular machine that we do".

You can read more from that interview here.

What Ploughing 2026 is truly all about

The Agriland team has been out and about over the last two days meeting some of the nicest characters in the country.

We're delighted to be able to share some of these moments with our audience.

Are you amongst the huge crowds at the Ploughing today?

85,000 attended day two of the event in 2025 - and we'll see how that compares to this year when the attendance figure is announced by the National Ploughing Association.

Tattoos aiming to make safety stick

If you’re making your way through the Ploughing site today, be sure to call in to Gas Networks Ireland for something a bit different - the Dial Before You Dig tattoo parlour.

Visitors can choose from a range of temporary tattoos, two of which are designed by prominent Dublin-based tattoo artist and founder of Heartbreak Social Club, Ryan Kelly (aka the Pirate).

Each tattoo is designed to deliver the safety message, along with an important reminder: before carrying out any excavation work, always check for the location of underground gas pipes.

In case you missed it - interview with Mary Lou McDonald

The Sinn Féin leader spoke to Agriland today about CAP.

Mad for Massey

Agriland caught up with a young man who has travelled to Screggan from Co. Dublin and is keeping an eye out for Massey Fergusons in particular.

Day two Ploughing 2026 livestream comes to an end!

Thank you to everyone who visited the Agriland stand or tuned in online for it.

The fun isn't over yet - over coverage of the Ploughing continues for the rest of the afternoon here on our live blog and across our platforms.

Crowds drawn to cattle classes with winners being announced at Ploughing

‘Before I was ever a politician I was a ploughman’

Senator Paul Daly told Agriland's Aisling O'Brien that he is competing in the Ploughing this year and that ground conditions are ideal for it.

Ploughing aside and back to politics, the senator said that in the run-up to Budget 2027, he is lobbying very hard for supports for farmers.

Fodder advice

Teagasc's Joe Patton, Tirlán's Bryan Harte and ICSA's Edmond Phelan joined Agriland's Aisling O'Brien to discuss how farmers are being affected by the drought conditions this year.

Recent data from the national grassland database has pointed to a significant recovery in grass growth rates.

The rain which fell across the country following the prolonged period of dry weather in July and August has had an impact on grass growth, data from PastureBase Ireland shows.

When the rain eventually came, grass growth bounced back.

Bryan Harte however has urged farmers to complete a fodder budget.

Edmond Phelan advised farmers who think they have a deficit to source something sooner rather than later.

Certified Irish Angus has announced the five finalist groups that will take part in the next iteration of its school competition.

This is a major highlight of the Ploughing - and a celebration of the chosen finalists.

At an event hosted by social media personality and broadcaster James Kavanagh, the student groups from counties Cavan, Cork, Donegal, Kilkenny, and Waterford were presented with the Angus calves which they will rear over an 18-month period. 

In addition to rearing the calves, each group will complete a research project throughout the competition duration.

Speaking to Agriland's Cathal O'Shea, general manager of Certified Irish Angus, Charles Smith said that over the 12 years of the competition, the standard continues to rise and the students taking part are very impressive.

In case you missed it - interview with Micheal Healy-Rae

Agriland spoke with the Kerry TD about his shock resignation earlier this year from his role as Minister of State.

Generational renewal a key issue

The important issue of generational renewal in farming is being discussed on the Agriland stage now.

Agriland editor Stella Meehan is joined by MEP Maria Walsh and father and daughter Heather and Brendan Joyce, who are sheep and suckler farming in Connemara.

Heather has "always had the love" for farming, something her father has instilled in her.

She feels farming is a "great way of life" and wants to keep on the tradition.

Maria Walsh is speaking about the need for policy to support young people into farming.

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Niall Collins told Agriland's Aisling O'Brien that the government "has the back of farmers".

Speaking ahead of Budget 2027, he said however that "we can't buffer against everything, we can't just magic away all of the pressures that we're experiencing".

The Agriland team is having a great time meeting loads of farmers around the Ploughing site!

Here is an absolute gent we chatted to earlier today:

The focus is on health and wellbeing now as the discussions continue on the Agriland stage.

Laura Tully is speaking about the Fit Farmers programme, a community-based lifestyle programme that blends in-person health education and physical-activity sessions with app-based support.

Through Fit Farmers, Laura has worked directly with farmers on health and wellbeing since establishing the programme in 2019.

Laura is joined by the HSE's Geraldine Sexton, who is giving farmers advice on making healthier eating options.

Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae joined Agriland’s Aisling O’Brien for a candid discussion.

He spoke following a difficult time in his political career, in which he resigned from government earlier this year.

He said his advice to anyone going through something tough is to “keep going forward, keep driving on – things work out in the long run”.

He spoke about a number of agriculture-related issues including fuel costs, and said he would like to see the government reopen the fuel support scheme as there are farmers who did not apply or did not qualify for the previous scheme.

Back on the Agriland stage, Co. Tipperary dairy farmer Katie Gleeson has joined Agriland's Cathal O'Shea for a Dairy Trail segment.

Katie has spoken about how she became a farmer after working as a hairdresser for 15 years.

She documents her journey in farming online and also aims to educate consumers about dairy production.

Katie is part of an interesting campaign which involved her switching roles with an Olympic sprinter to promote how sustainable yogurt can fuel an active lifestyle.

Katie, who is an ambassador for the National Dairy Council, welcomed athlete Sophie Becker to her farm for the European Milk Forum's ‘Yogurt, Its Great Inside’ campaign.

Gleeson then followed Becker to the Sport Ireland Institute in Dublin where the athlete trains.

We're delighted to have social media star Eoin Lynch at the Agriland tent today. He even made a new friend here!

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald 'shocked' at survey.

Mary Lou McDonald told Agriland's Charles O'Donnell that she is "shocked" at the "very stark" findings of a major new national survey.

The findings of the survey – conducted by leading Irish research agency Opinions, and commissioned by Agriland and the ICMSA - include that one-in-three farmers have indicated their intention to exit the farming sector within five years.

McDonald said the survey findings serve as a "wake-up call" for anyone who may be complacent on the issue of generational renewal in the farming sector, and she urged government "to come at this issue very seriously".

FTMTA's Michael Farrelly has joined Agriland's Joshua Kelly to discuss trends in machinery and how big the challenge of rising fuel costs is for agri-contractors.

Taking place on the Agriland stage now is a special live version of the Beef Brief podcast.

Agriland’s Charles O’Donnell is joined by Paul Nolan of Dawn Meats, Eric Driver of Tullow Mart, and Sean Sherman of ICSA.

Discussion is taking place on beef prices, the EU ban on Brazilian beef and the CAP.

ICSA's Sean Sherman said maintaining support for farmers in the next CAP is "paramount" and that there must not be a reduction in that support.

Cast your vote on the nation's favourite breed!

Today we visited An Coimisiún Toghcháin, Ireland’s independent electoral commission, which is asking the public to cast their vote for the nation's favourite cattle breed.

It is running the 'Great Bovine Ballot' at the Ploughing.

Voters are being asked to select their preferences across a range of cattle breeds, including Aberdeen Angus, Holstein Friesian, Hereford, Charolais, Limousin, Highland, Dexter and Wagyu.

The livestream is kicking off with a panel discussion on TB and its devastating impact on farms in Ireland.

Farmer Thomas Duffy, Noel Murphy from ICMSA, Ray Doyle from ICOS have joined Agriland editor Stella Meehan on stage.

Noel Murphy has said there is a lot scepticism among farmers when it comes to the TB programme.

He said farmers are losing confidence in testing.

Thomas Duffy has spoken of TB on his farm and the "bureaucratic nonsense" that he experienced.

And we're live - with lots to come over the next three hours.

Lights, camera, action!

We're getting ready to go live at noon - be sure to visit the Agriland tent or tune in online for an afternoon of insightful and entertaining interviews.

The Agriland team has been admiring all the machinery on display at Ploughing 2026 - click through the images below to admire also.

Eoin Lynch is now joined by robot dog Dexter, created at the COMAND Technology Gateway in Technological University Shannon.

Eoin Lynch has arrived!

Social media star from the 2024 National Ploughing Championships, Eoin Lynch is at the Agriland tent today getting people to strut their stuff on the green grass carpet and share their thoughts on Ploughing, farming and general rural life.

Livestream countdown

In just over an hour, the Ploughing 2026 day two livestream will kick off at the Agriland tent.

Today's livestream is focusing on the future of livestock and the family farm and we'll continue to keep a close eye on the ploughing fields to spot emerging champions.

You can read more about what the day will entail here.

Rolling out the green carpet

We're rolling out the green carpet for visitors to the Agriland tent today, with a chance to be on our livestream.

Sheepdog of the future?

The Agriland team while out and about the site this morning spotted robot dog Dexter doing a paw stand.

Dexter was created at the COMAND Technology Gateway in Technological University Shannon.

Day one ploughing results

Ploughing conditions were excellent on day one of the 2026 National Championships, which all made for a very fair day of competition.

All the sites at Screggan feature sandy soils which, according to the plough men and women taking part, provide a fair challenge for all competitors.

You can read through the results from day one here. We're very excited to visit the fields and meet more competitors today.

Want to win a Landini Serie 7? Call in to Agriland

Farmers can be in with a chance to win the use of a Landini Serie 7 for a year.

The lucky winner will have the free use of a Landini Serie 7 from mid-January to mid-December 2027 or for 750 recorded operating hours, whichever comes first.

Be sure to call in to the Agriland stand today to enter the competition.

If you're planning on doing some shopping today be sure to call in to the Agriland stand for our merchandise!

The Agriland team will be out and about across the site today chatting to punters and seeing what all the exhibitors have to offer.

Here is a look back at day one and a glimpse of what you can expect on day two of Ploughing 2026:

An early start for many as the crowds started to form for entry this morning. Yesterday's attendance hit 77,000 - how will today's compare?

Those travelling to the event are being urged to follow the directional signage to the venue and not to use satnav or similar devices close to the event site.

When you arrive on site take note of the number, colour, or animal sign as you enter/exit the car park.

If you have a smartphone, drop a pin when you park up, or take a picture of the sign to easily locate your car later.

Visitors to the National Ploughing Championships over the coming days are being advised to pack both raincoats and suncream.

Alan O'Reilly of Carlow Weather has said the two remaining days of the 95th championships will bring mixed conditions.

You can hear more on what Alan had to say below.

Agriland has a packed schedule of events taking place at our tent this year, so be sure to drop by us at Block 4, Row 10, Stand 184 over the next two days.

Good morning all, and welcome to our live blog. If you're heading to Screggan today, take a look at the site map to see where you need to head first - will it be the tractors, or for a bit of food, or maybe even some ploughing?