The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, will be making what may be one of his last "pre-shuffle" appearances when he visits the National Ploughing Championships in Carlow on September 28th, the day before he is due to re-arrange his political pack.
He will officially open the event which was presented to the media yesterday in blazing sunshine.
Perhaps Mr Ahern will be forewarned of the political wars he may face when he walks the 3.4 miles of steel track which have been laid down for the event.
It is a relic of the first Gulf War when it was used as an instant airstrip and rescued stranded vehicles from the desert.
For some of Mr Ahern's Ministers there will be no rescue, and, in particular, for the outgoing Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mr Walsh, who will be making his last official outing in his job on the opening day.
The ploughing championships, which will be held on the Nolan and Byrne farms at Grangeford and Ardnehue, lying between Carlow town and Tullow in rich tillage country, have continued to provide a political and commercial platform.
Although the commercial side tends to look after itself, it will be helped along this year with the provision of more than 600 trade stands on the 250-acre
site.
All the political parties will be setting up their tents and religious groups, as diverse as the Legion of Mary and the Seventh-Day Adventists, will be seeking souls in the tented area which will cover 200,000 sq feet.
President Mary McAleese will visit the site on Thursday, but it may be a little bit early to question her about whether or not she will plough a furrow in the Phoenix Park for the next seven years, or move to pastures new.
The event will also mark the start of the race for the Irish Farmers Association's top job as president.
While the election will not be held for another 14 months, candidates have traditionally jumped the starting gun two championships before voting.
A new feature has been added to this year's ploughing championships that will see the unveiling of an exhibition area where farmers will be able to test their skills on machinery they might wish to buy.
More than 300 farmers are expected to take part in the ploughing contests, with 20 women competing in the "Farmerette" competition.