CATERERS AT the National Ploughing Championships at Carendon, Athy, Co Kildare, expect to use up 6,000 litres of tomato ketchup on the 20 tonnes of burgers on the site from September 21st-23rd.
An expected crowd of 180,000-plus who will make their way to the 300-acre site. A further 400 acres have been set aside for parking for what is the largest rural gathering of people in Europe.
Anna May McHugh, National Ploughing Association managing director, said there would be 1,136 exhibitors this year, which indicated a growth and confidence in the agri-economy.
Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith said at the official launch yesterday that there was a greater air of optimism this year following three very bad years for the farming community.
“Thankfully the weather this year has been very good and the crops have been very good,” he said. “Product prices are improving and there is a much better return worldwide on commodities and morale is better.”
He was hopeful the EU would grant an early payout of the single farm payment this year which he had requested because of poor weather earlier in the year and the credit difficulties. A payout of 50 per cent by mid-October would bring much-needed cash into the rural economies.
Mr Smith rejected suggestions that 20,000 errors found in the applications from farmers for the single farm payment indicated spurious or false claims.
“We have the best and most efficient system for the single farm payment in the European Union and the errors made are minor ones,” the Minister said. “There is absolutely no doubt farmers were not trying to defraud the EU.”