The new president of the Irish Cattle and Sheepfarmers' Association will be elected tomorrow evening following an intensive and sometimes bitter campaign.
The outgoing president of the organisation, which claims a membership of 5,000 livestock farmers, Mr John Deegan, a Wicklow sheepfarmer, resigned unexpectedly two months ago.
His had been a difficult presidential term from the beginning of the year because his organisation was the only one in the State to support the Fischler reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy.
The organisation appeared to be out of line with the other three main farm organisations by supporting the introduction of the full decoupling of farm grants from farm production.
Shortly after the acceptance of the terms of the reform by the other farm organisations and the Government, Mr Deegan, an outspoken man on most subjects, resigned to devote more time to farming and his family.
However, within a few weeks of his resignation, Mr Deegan was prevailed upon to run for the presidential vacancy which he had created by his own resignation.
Three other contestants, Mr Malcolm Thompson, Mr Sean Scully and Mr John Heney, have been seeking the presidency, which will be decided on votes cast by county executive members who make up the 107-strong electorate.
Mr Thompson is currently treasurer of the organisation, Mr Scully runs a beef and sheep enterprise at Stradbally, Co Laois, and Mr Heney, from Kilfeacle, Tipperary, has been on the organisations's national executive for the past eight years.