The races to fill the presidencies of the two main farming organisations, the IFA and the ICMSA, have begun in earnest.
Nominations closed at the weekend for the Irish Farmers' Association's presidential race, and three candidates are seeking to fill the vacancy when John Dillon steps down at the end of the year.
The three candidates for president are deputy president Ruaidhrí Deasy from north Tipperary, vice-president (North Leinster-Ulster), Raymond O'Malley from Louth and national treasurer Pádraig Walshe from Laois.
In the contest for deputy president, current Munster vice-president, Donal Kelly from west Cork, and former national livestock chairman and current Carlow national council representative Derek Deane have been nominated.
Branch voting at 946 centres will begin on December 1st and continue until December 16th, and the national count will be held in Dublin on December 20th.
While nominations have not yet closed to elect the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association president when Pat O'Rourke steps down at the end of December, two people have already declared their interest in the post.
The current deputy president of the organisation Jackie Cahill, from Tipperary, and Dominic Cronin, chairman of ICMSA's dairy committee, from Boherbui, Co Cork, are already canvassing.
Nominations for the position will close on December 2nd, and the successful candidate will be elected on December 21st by the 82-member national council of the ICMSA at a meeting in Limerick.