Ploughing 2026: Product Launches and a Stand Full of Stories
A look back at a busy week in Screggan, the products that got people talking, and a few surprises at the JFC stand. 
The JFC Ploughing Team 2026.
After the biggest event to date in 2025, the bar was extremely high coming into Tullamore this year. As always, “The Ploughing” didn’t disappoint.
Our seasoned 33-person team entered the familiar ground ready for a busy few days and we were kept on our feet.
In the Irish agricultural industry, the calendar is shaped around the National Ploughing Championships for many. We always try to bring something special to the table. This year, we landed in Screggan, Co. Offaly, with three brand new products. Plus, the Championships coincided with JFC CEO and Founder John F. Concannon’s freshly launched book.
Ploughing in Full Swing
For JFC, preparations for the National Ploughing Championships begin long before the gates open in September. Innovation is part of the daily process across all departments as collective minds work toward finding quality new solutions for farmers throughout Ireland and abroad. This hard work culminates in September every year as we make the pilgrimage to the Ploughing.
After months of planning and weeks of stand building, manufacturing, catalogue production, photo and video shoots, and more, our team was on site Tuesday morning with clean wellies and polished products, ready for the three days of chaos.
Nuala Cahill & John F. Concannon with Eoin Hughes & Jane Lycett of Enterprise Ireland.
By 9am, the gates were open, the first punters were rolling in, and the clean wellies didn’t stay clean for long. Nearly a quarter of a million people would pass through over the course of the event. President Catherine Connolly official opened the Championships as thousands flocked to Screggan. From that point on, our team were in full flow, offering advice on products, guiding customers through through our display, and lapping up the energy from the crowds.
Three New Arrivals
We’ve become accustomed to large crowds at the JFC stand and this year was certainly no exception. Our Ploughing surprises seem to grow with every event, and this year we product unveiled three new products.
1. Bale Box
The newly launched BaleBox on display at our stand.
Building on the idea behind our Haybell, the new BaleBox covers two round bales or one large square bale. Eight feeding ports give animals access while the cover protects the hay from the weather. With the bales resting on their sides, the design helps keep more feed off the ground and reduce waste. The BaleBox can be pinned down, while a bar across the top allows it to be lifted on and off the bales.
2. BogieFlex 750
Our new BogieFlex 750 drew plenty of interest from visitors looking for a trailer suited to tougher ground and heavier-duty jobs. It has a 750-litre pan, a bogie axle to help keep it more steady over uneven terrain, and hydraulic tipping operated by wired or wireless remote. The wide tupping angle helps empty loads quickly, taking strain out of a lot of cumbersome daily tasks.
3. New Long Drinking Trough
New products are always part of our Ploughing stand.
We also introduced our new 180-litre Long Drinking Trough. Its durable polyethylene body is built to withstand knocks, frost, and adverse weather, making it suitable for use in the yard or out at pasture throughout the year. An optional heater can be fitted to help prevent the water from freezing during winter.
Reading the Pulse
If you followed our socials during Ploughing week, you’ll know that we brought a lot of products down the M6 through multiple artic lorries and countless van runs. Our range is as diverse as the farming community, so all parts of the stand were buzzing each day. But in particular, we noticed a keen interest in our ATV range, with trailers, Tip-Assists, and fertiliser spreaders garnering a lot of attention.
We debuted our Pipe Tensioner tool, a simple but innovative device for jointing twinwall pipes, taking significant labour out of the work. This product will make land drainage projects much easier for farmers over the next 12 months. Our demonstration area was non-stop for the Pipe Tensioner, with people seeing a genuine back-saving investment.
Our ATV range was in demand after the release of the BogieFlex 750.
The Evolution Automatic Calf Feeder was again one of the star attractions. We had existing customers enquiring about installing additional models, new faces seeking information on which option best suits their setup, and plenty of Farmers exploring what automatic feeding could mean for their own sheds.
Our latest PRO+ model gives users the option to feed calves whole milk as well as replacement powder. The unit is made with dual mixers so farmers can switch between both feeding options seamlessly, rather than having to rear calves using a combination of methods.
The team was on hand to field questions, showcase the various Evolution models on-site, and demonstrate how each one works with fully functioning units on display.
One thing came through clearly in our conversations with farmers at the stand: the need for equipment that saves time and reduces the physical work involved in running a farm. It’s a need our innovation teams have focused on for decades, and one that has become ever more pressure as continues to rise across the agri sector.
At the JFC Stand
The National Ploughing Championships uniquely bring together farmers, children, families, friends, show-goers from all walks of life. Among the familiar faces at the JFC tent were Sean Canney, Minister for Transport; MEP Maria Walsh; professional speaking Gerry Duffing; and Eoin Hughes and Jane Lycett from Enterprise Ireland, each of whom has contributed to the JFC story over the years.
One visitor we did not expect was Dexter the Robot. Dexter showed up in Thursday morning, threw on a JFC jersey, and proceeded to put on a show for everyone at Stand 107. He even befriended JFC Agri mascot Millie the Calf.
The Bucket Man
The Bucket Man was on sale from our stand after its official launch earlier in September.
2026 has been a special year for JFC’s CEO John F. Concannon, as he released his book, The Bucket Man, the story of how JFC came to be and the fascinating first-hand account of John’s life. Since its launch the week before the Ploughing, requests, reviews, and compliments have been more than steady.
John was on hand to discuss the book, partake in interviews, and sign copies for the droves who came to pick one up. This undoubtedly added to the magic of the Ploughing Championships for JFC this year.
For anyone interested in picking up a copy, The Bucket Man is for sale in various book retailers around the country, in-store and online.
One for the Books
2026 has been a tumultuous year for all involved in agriculture, yet the National Ploughing Championships is always a great barometer, showing that the passion and enthusiasm for the industry remains steadfast.
We’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who stopped by our stand or crossed paths with us in Screggan. A massive thanks must also go out to the JFC Ploughing Team for their hard work and dedication in the lead-up to and during the event.
We’re already counting down the days to next year’s National Ploughing Championships.
