Ceist Eile

Ceist Eile is in development. Features, questions and prices may change while we refine it.

Subjects · Leaving Cert Agricultural Science

Leaving Cert Agricultural Science: Farm machinery & technology

How often Farm machinery & technology comes up on the Agricultural Science papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 5 of the last 5 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

OL Asked on 5 of the last 5 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Farm machinery & technology, Higher Level(7 marks)

Quick ones on Farm machinery & technology.

(a)What is the main advantage of GPS-guided fertiliser spreading?
  1. It makes the fertiliser dissolve faster
  2. Fewer overlaps, so less fertiliser is wasted
  3. It removes the need for any soil tests
(b)What does an activity monitor (pedometer or collar) on a dairy cow mainly detect?
  1. Early signs of liver fluke
  2. Changes in the milk fat content
  3. Increased activity when in heat
(c)Which implement inverts the soil and buries the old sward?
  1. Plough
  2. Roller
  3. Harrow
Show the answers

(a) Fewer overlaps, so less fertiliser is wasted

(b) Increased activity when in heat

(c) Plough

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Farm machinery & technology.

Higher Level

Asked on 5 of the last 5 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q3a, Q3b
2024Q1
2023Q9a, Q13d
2022Q15
2021Q3a, Q3b, Q16d

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Farm machinery & technology questions

Farm machinery & technology, 2 marks

Why is a diet feeder (mixer wagon) used for housed cattle?

  1. It spreads slurry evenly on grassland after cutting
  2. It chops hedges and briars around the yard
  3. It mixes silage and meal into an even total ration
Show the answer

It mixes silage and meal into an even total ration

A diet feeder mixes forage, concentrate and minerals into a total mixed ration, so each animal gets the same balanced feed in every mouthful.

Farm machinery & technology, 3 marks

How does virtual fencing keep cattle within a grazing area?

  1. Drones fly over the field and herd the cattle back from the edge
  2. GPS collars give a sound, then a mild pulse, at the line
  3. Buried wires carry a strong current along the boundary
Show the answer

GPS collars give a sound, then a mild pulse, at the line

The boundary is drawn on an app. A GPS collar gives an audio warning as the animal nears it, then a mild electric pulse, and cattle learn to turn back at the sound.

Farm machinery & technology, 3 marks

How can a drone help a tillage farmer?

  1. By mapping crop health and problem areas from the air
  2. By ploughing and sowing small fields from the air
  3. By replacing all soil sampling and the laboratory tests
Show the answer

By mapping crop health and problem areas from the air

Drone cameras can show patches of disease, weeds, waterlogging or poor growth, so the farmer can target inputs. Soil still has to be sampled for analysis.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 5 of the last 5 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q3
2024Q2a, Q6b, Q8
2023Q12
2022Q1, Q17
2021Q11a, Q11b

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Farm machinery & technology questions

Farm machinery & technology, 2 marks

Which machine turns and spreads cut grass to help it dry for hay?

  1. A plough
  2. A disc harrow
  3. A tedder
Show the answer

A tedder

Tedding spreads and fluffs the grass so sun and wind dry it faster. A rake then gathers it into rows for the baler.

Farm machinery & technology, 2 marks

What is the main job of a plough?

  1. To spread fertiliser evenly on the field
  2. To turn over the soil and bury surface trash
  3. To cut the grass for silage in May
Show the answer

To turn over the soil and bury surface trash

The plough inverts the top layer, burying weeds and old crop. Harrows then break it down into a fine, firm seedbed.

Farm machinery & technology, 3 marks

GPS on a fertiliser spreader mainly helps the farmer to avoid?

  1. Overlaps and missed strips
  2. Rain falling on the fertiliser
  3. All soil compaction
Show the answer

Overlaps and missed strips

GPS guidance spreads only where needed. This saves fertiliser, cuts costs and reduces nutrient loss to water.

Other Agricultural Science topics

All of Leaving Cert Agricultural Science