Tillage Day takes place on 5 November and the final agenda has been announced.

You can look through the full list of panels and speakers below.

The event takes place at the Keadeen Hotel, Newbridge, Co Kildare. The event is organised by the Irish Farmers Journal and supported by the Irish Seed Trade Association.

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Throughout the day there will be opportunities to visit trade stands and chat with fellow farmers and industry.

To purchase tickets at the early bird rate of €50 until 28 October, click here.

The day is farmer-focused and aims to help farmers make some positive changes or improvements after listening to the talks.

Grain markets

The morning will focus on the season gone by and looks ahead to next season. What did farmers and agronomists learn from 2026 and what will they change for 2027?

We will look at grain markets and where new opportunities might lie, including using Irish grain to feed dairy cows that could deliver added value products.

We will also look at the next CAP, the future of the sector, have an update on the Food Vision for Tillage report, examine how plant protection products get to market and look at how far away new genomic techniques are away for Irish tillage farmers.

The full Tillage Day agenda is as follows

8.30am: Registration outside restaurant, name TBC with trestle tables.

9.20am: introduction with Adam Woods, editor Irish Farmers Journal

9.45am: the season gone by and to come with farmers and agronomists, chaired by Siobhán Walsh tillage editor Irish Farmers Journal with:

  • Michael Hoey, Country Crest, Co Dublin.
  • Ciarán Collins, tillage specialist, Teagasc.
  • Alex Butler, tillage farmer, Co Westmeath.
  • James O'Loughlin, agronomist with Quinns of Baltinglass.

    • 10.25am: plant protection, imports and genetics - how the EU regulates, chaired by editor Adam Woods with:

  • Emma Brown, political and government affairs with CropLife Europe.
  • Noel Banville, IFA European policy executive.

    • 11am: tea break.

    11.35am: Yield Watch - aiming for the highest yields and profit, chaired by tillage editor Siobhán Walsh with:

  • Isaac Wheelock, tillage farmer, Wheelock Farms, Co Wexford.
  • George Blackburn, head of agronomy at Cooney Furlong Grain Company.
  • John Dunne, cereal variety manager at Goldcrop.

    • 12.25pm: the need to innovate in grain markets, chaired by Irish Farmers Journal renewables editor Stephen Robb with:

  • Paul McGillicuddy, CEO of the Malting Company of Ireland.
  • John Martin, Centenary Co-Op.
  • Paul Ward, managing director Drummonds.

    • 1.05pm: lunch

    2.30pm: Irish grain feeding Irish cows with Professor Finbar Mulligan, University College Dublin.

    2.50pm: discussion on Irish grain feeding Irish cows, chaired by editor Adam Woods with:

  • Professor Finbar Mulligan, UCD.
  • Brendan Horan, Irish Farmers Journal dairy editor.
  • John Murphy, grain committee chairperson at the Irish Farmers Association.
  • David Kennedy, head of dairy and tillage at Bord Bia.

    • 3.30pm: the future of Irish tillage with industry experts, chaired by tillage editor Siobhán Walsh with:

  • Frank O'Mara, director of Teagasc.
  • Barry Larkin, CEO of Acorn Independent Merchants.
  • Fred Lynch, president of the Irish Seed Trade Association.
  • Joe McNamara, agricultural inspector, Department's Crop Policy, Evaluation and Certification Division.

    • 4.15pm: conference close with Adam Woods, editor Irish Farmers Journal.