Nice had top billing at national ploughing championships

IT might be a biscuit to some people and a French Riveria resort to others, but for the thousands of people at the national ploughing championships at Ballacolla, Co Laois, yesterday, it was essentially all about Europe.

Government ministers, farm leaders and politicians on the campaign trail kept reminding them of this fact as they wooed the rural vote for the Nice Treaty in glorious Indian Summer sunshine.

Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh said a positive outcome to the referendum is in farmers' best interests and it would be totally wrong if it were used to protest against current difficulties or the recent Agenda 2000 mid-term review proposals.