MORE than 40,000 visitors and thousands more exhibitors and competitors attended the opening day of the National Ploughing Championships at Oak Park, Carlow, yesterday.
The event was opened by the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Yates, who complimented the National Ploughing Association which has staged it since 1931.
Yesterday's crowds far exceeded expectations as many heeded the weather forecast which predicts wet weather at the end of the week.
The area set aside for exhibitions and the ploughing competitions covers some 300 acres of the Teagasc experimental farm outside Carlow.
Some visitors experienced difficulty getting on to the site from the southern approaches to Carlow yesterday morning, but those travelling from the north and from Dublin found the going much easier.
With several million pounds worth of farm machinery on site, the sales teams were working hard.
"People come here to look at machines in action, especially those in the cereals business, but they don't buy until later in the year, said one of them.
"We expect commitments when the EU cheques come, about three weeks from now. Then they will have money and we expect they will spend it," he said.
Tillage has been one of the few growth areas in Irish agriculture in recent years and some of the most efficient farmers are involved in the sector.
There has been an increase of more than 25 per cent in tillage production during the past two years. This has brought national, cereals output to its pre-CAP Reform levels.
Mr Yates, who spent all day yesterday touring the site, claimed he was responsible for reversing the downward trend in cereals output since he came to office. He may have a point because production had dropped by 25 per cent in the previous year.
However, he could not deny, that good weather, a reduction in seaside rates and an increase in EU supports have also speeded, the plough.
Mr Yates also made a pledge to cereal farmers that he would protect them to his best ability from attempts by the EU Commission to take money from them to compensate beef farmers affected by the BSE crisis.
On the ploughing fields there were 1O competitions, with Mr Martin Kehoe taking his 10th senior title in a row and his 11th, overall. He is the reigning world, champion and is hoping for three-in-a-row on Saturday.
The Junior Stubble competition was won by Mr Sean Daly, from Galway, and the Three Furrow Stubble was won by Mr Stanley Deane of Cork West.
The U-40 horse class was won by Ms Zwena McCullough, the only woman competitor. She had taken up horse ploughing last Christmas.
According to Ms Ann May McHugh, managing director of the NPA, she is the only woman competitor to have ploughed in the history of the association in competition with men.
In the Farmerette class, where women compete against one another, the winner was Ms Deirdre Barron from Wexford. She was also named this year's Queen of the Plough.
Mr Bertie Murray, from Carlow, won the Vintage 2 furrow tractor competition and the Junior Tractor competition went to Mr Harry Mallon from Donegal.
The winner of the Intermediate Tractor class competition was Mr Pat Brandon from Laois.
The President, Mrs Robinson will today formally open the World Ploughing Competitions, which are being held in conjunction with the nationals.
Other events include a recital by the Garda Band, fashion shows, cookery competitions, machinery demonstrations and traditional music sessions.