Podcasts about farming ireland

Mark Plunkett from the Teagasc Signpost Programme joins Catherine Egan on this week's episode of the Beef Edge podcast to discuss soil fertility and planning for the year ahead.  Mark outlines how only 13% of the soil on drystock farms is optimum for pH, P and K. While there has been a big rise in recent years with the amount of lime being applied, in 2026 another 500,000 tonnes are still needed.  Mark explains the benefits of lime on climate and production and says that farmers should use soil test results to prioritise where fertiliser money is spent through updating the nutrient management plan.   Mark also discusses the application of nitrogen and slurry this spring to maximise efficient use and he says it is important to target slurry to silage ground. Further details on the Signpost Programme are at:https://teagasc.ie/environment/climate-change-air-quality/signpost-programme/ For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

Emer Kennedy, Dairy Enterprise leader, Teagasc Moorepark and Joe Patton, Head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer, join James Dunne on this week's Dairy Edge to discuss the recently launched Teagasc Dairy Roadmap 2030 — a blueprint for where the Irish dairy sector needs to go over the remainder of this decade.  The roadmap sets out clear KPIs across profitability, sustainability, breeding, labour and environmental performance. For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

For this week's Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses on/off grazing, picking your paddocks and grass budgeting. The featured farmer is Ger Whelan from Ballinahinch, Co. Clare. Read more from this week's Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:https://bit.ly/Grass10-17thFeb  For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

Working with the EU funded VALPRO Path project team, Michael Hennessy visits agricultural grain drying and storage specialists McArthur BDC in the UK.  Michael speaks with John McArthur about the company's work installing large-scale grain storage and drying systems, alongside their plans to process home-grown beans for inclusion in poultry rations.The discussion explores how small-scale trials, along with results from large commercial poultry units, show that beans can successfully compete with soya in feed rations. John also discusses how improved infrastructure and local processing could create new markets for UK-grown protein crops, reduce reliance on imported soya, and at the same time add value across the arable sector.For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Grass10 Advisor, Nikki Kennedy, and Grass10 Manager, John Maher, are on this week's Beef Edge with an update on the current situation around the country and planning for the spring ahead.  John gives a review of 2025 which was a great year for most farmers in relation to grass. January was significantly wetter than average, especially in eastern and southern counties, contributing to saturated ground and flooding risk.  Nikki outlines the importance of walking the farm and picking the right slurry for the right ground and highlights the importance of correcting P and K. They both outline managing grass and getting started grazing in the first rotation and how to rectify any damage There are also a number of beef spring grass workshops taking place around the country in the coming weeks focusing on the practical aspect of grazing this spring with live demos focused on fertiliser, slurry and infrastructure.  Further details at:https://teagasc.ie/crops/grassland/grassland-events/#Springgrass For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com  

Eleanor Brady, Ruminant Veterinary Manager with MSD Animal Health, joins us to discuss the critical role of clostridial vaccination in sheep flocks ahead of lambing.Eleanor outlines the impact of clostridial disease and the significant losses it can cause if not properly controlled. We explore the optimal timing of vaccination in ewes before lambing, how to maximise passive transfer of immunity to lambs through colostrum, and what this means for early lamb protection.We finish by discussing best practice when handling and administering vaccines to ensure maximum efficacy.For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Donal Whelton, Head of Agri at AIB, joins Stuart Childs to discuss the financial situation that Irish dairy farmers are currently in and what challenges they may face and the solutions they may require in 2026. Donal says that the Irish dairy sector is entering 2026 from a position of financial strength. Farm debt levels are nearly half of what they were in 2009. Meanwhile, farm cash balances have doubled over the same period. Overdraft utilisation in dairy is currently at its second lowest in 20 years and despite tighter milk prices this year, the sector overall has stronger balance sheets than in previous downturns. Cost inflation is now the primary financial pressure. Total dairy farm operating costs have risen by 46% since 2020 with the key drivers of this being fertiliser and energy and concentrate feed which is up 56% and now averaging 9 c/L of production cost. Production costs range from mid-30s to mid-50s c/L, creating major resilience differences between farms. Knowing your break-even milk price, preparing 2025 accounts early (especially for tax liabilities), and targeting cost control will be important this year. Finally, Donal offers some advice around being prepared for a year like 2026, he recommends financial buffers such as €500 per cow working capital available at start of year and where debt level is >€3,000/cow, hold a reserve to cover 12 months of repayments.  Farmers should complete simple forward cashflow projections (even in a notebook) to quantify funding needs accurately before approaching banks. Consider financing capital projects or tax liabilities rather than depleting cash. Banks can offer overdraft increases, term loans, interest-only options, or retrospective CapEx funding to help ease any cashflow pressures people might experience however, it is important that people identify pressure early and engage early as cashflow support is more effective when proactively structured than reactively requested. For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

For this week's Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses current grass growth, prediction for grass growth, plus rain and average soil temperature for the next 7 days. The featured farmer is Stephen Burchill from Bandon, Co. Cork. Read more from this week's Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:https://bit.ly/Grass10-10thFebruary For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

Don Somers, the Wexford tillage farmer who won the 2025 Teagasc–FBD Environmental Sustainability Award, and Siobhán Kavanagh from Teagasc's Signpost Farm programme, join Michael Hennessy on this week's Tillage Edge. Don explains why winning the award was important to him and how it recognises tillage farmers' sustainability work. Siobhán outlines the awards categories, judging criteria, supports available to applicants and practical first steps farmers can take now to prepare for the 2026 awards.  The deadline for applications is the end of February and full details and how to apply are at: https://teagasc.ie/environment/climate-change-air-quality/signpost-programme/sustainability-awards/about-the-awards/#apply  For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Grass10 advisor, Nikki Kennedy, joins us to discuss key grassland management priorities for the weeks ahead.  We look at current challenging ground conditions, opening farm covers, and the importance of soil sampling and making full use of your nutrient management plan.  Nikki also shares practical advice on planning spring fertiliser purchases, along with key tips for applying fertiliser and organic manures when conditions allow.Sign up to the Grass10 newsletter here: https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/grassland/grass10/grass10-enewsletter/ For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

For this final part of the ‘Dairy Calf to Beef' series on the Beef Edge, Liam Gannon from Volac discusses feeding the calf up to weaning and the key dos and don'ts around feeding milk replacer.  Liam explains the ingredients one should focus on when selecting a milk replacer and the key benefits of feeding a high-quality milk replacer in terms of nutrition and calf performance cannot be underestimated. If you are happy with the replacer your feeding that is key. Liam highlights a recommended feeding program for spring-born calves in terms of volume, frequency and dilution rates up to weaning. He also outlines the common digestive issues when feeding milk replacer, and how farmers can prevent them. It's worth noting that consistency has come up throughout this podcast series in relation to feeding milk replacer for calf health, hygiene, timing and mixing. To conclude Liam discusses the importance of the current dilution rate and advises farmers to take into account the cold weather temperatures and impact that can have and to account for this when feeding replacer. For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge  Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

Conor Hogan, Research Officer with Teagasc Moorepark, whose work has focused on labour efficiency and work organisation on dairy farms, and Martina Gormley, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, who works closely with farmers on practical ways to reduce workload, join James Dunne on this week's Dairy Edge. With spring calving commenced on the majority of dairy farms it places an increased demand on farm workload and for this episode, we'll be discussing what the research tells us about managing workload, what practical changes farmers can make to reduce pressure, and how small system adjustments can make a big difference to both efficiency and quality of life. For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

Damian Costello joins us to discuss key sheep management priorities for February as farms gear up for lambing.  We cover grassland management and planning for early nitrogen applications when conditions allow, along with the importance of getting ewe nutrition right in late pregnancy, including practical feeding tips.  We also discuss flock health, with a focus on lameness with advice on preparing supplies ahead of the lambing season.  Damian reminds farmers about the sheep census deadline, and finishes by highlighting the upcoming Teagasc National Hill Sheep Conference For more tips and information visit: https://teagasc.ie/news--events/daily/managing-your-sheep-farm-through-february/ For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

For this week's Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher explains why opening farm cover measurement should be prioritised this week. Plus he discusses the importance of completing a spring rotation planner in PastureBase with the target for March 1st to have about 30% of the farm grazed. Read more from this week's Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:https://bit.ly/Grass10-3rdFebruary For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

For the second in a series featuring talks from this year's Teagasc National Tillage Conference, this week on the Tillage Edge we focus on research and the key issues that will shape tillage farming in the years ahead. This episode highlights new research from Teagasc Oak Park with Jack Perry who provides an update on BYDV transmission in tolerant barley varieties; Sinéad Dermody discusses the suitability of rye varieties for higher-value markets; while Stephen Kildea outlines how chocolate spot in beans has developed fungicide resistance in recent years. All the slides from the conference are available at:https://teagasc.ie/publications/national-tillage-conference-2026-presentations/ For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Padraig O'Connor, Dairy Technician with Teagasc in Grange, joins Stuart Childs with tips and advice for the month of February. Padraig discusses the management of the freshly calved cows as a separate group.  Keeping these cows in for a few days after calving in a fresh-calved group allows recovery, easier observation and reduced bullying. Control of the colostrum group also simplifies milking management and use of available help. Padraig then talks about testing colostrum quality with a refractometer.  Use a Brix refractometer (target >22%) to quickly check colostrum quality. This helps ensure adequate passive immunity for calves and flags potential diet issues. If readings are low, review the dry cow diet. Short-term protein supplementation (e.g., soybean meal pre-calving) may help improve quality. With reports of many cows over-conditioned this year, milk fever is a real risk. Padraig recommends focussing on correct dry cow minerals (especially magnesium), appropriate body condition (≈3.0–3.25), and controlled feeding for later calvers where feasible. Milk fever is a gateway disease linked to retained cleanings, mastitis, and fertility losses. Finally, Padraig advises people to prepare early for spring grazing opportunities.  Even with poor weather, monitor drier paddocks and be ready to turn cows out for short (2-3 hour) grazings to reduce feed costs and support production. Set up fences and access in advance to act quickly when conditions allow; short grazing bouts can work without paddock water if cows have good access in sheds. For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

For the third part of our ‘Dairy Calf to Beef' series, vet Tommy Heffernan discusses the key areas to ensure a healthy calf and developing a sustainable profitable dairy beef system.  Tommy says that pneumonia, scour and coccidiosis are some of the main issues with calves. The damp, cold spring weather impacts calf health and increases risks.  Tommy outlines ways to rescue pneumonia and scour outbreaks in calves, plus he highlights the best procedure for calf arrival on farm that he has seen working well in terms of electrolytes, housing etc. Tommy also explains that prevention planning with a vet plays a huge role in advance of purchasing calves this spring. For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

Darren Carty, Sheep and Schemes Editor with the Irish Farmers Journal, joins this week's 300th episode of OviCast for a wide-ranging conversation as we look at where the sheep industry stands today.We cover ewe numbers, lamb throughput, price trends, export markets and policy changes shaping farm decisions. We also touch on farmer demographics and highlight areas of resilience and opportunity and discuss what current trends could mean for the road ahead.For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

For this week's Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher gives an update on the first set of figures in terms of grass supply from PastureBase Ireland. Plus he talks about the grazing management plan for the spring. Read more from this week's Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:https://bit.ly/Grass10-27thJanuary For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

We begin a series of talks from this year's Teagasc National Tillage Conference, focusing on the research and issues that will shape tillage farming in the years ahead. This episode of the Tillage Edge examines Irish competitiveness, both at home and internationally.  Teagasc economist, Dr Trevor Donnellan, presents a paper prepared by Dr Fiona Thorne, outlining how Irish farmers remain competitive due to high yields, whilst highlighting that national averages can mask large differences between the most and least profitable farms. Links to all presentations from the 2026 National Tillage Conference are at:https://teagasc.ie/publications/national-tillage-conference-2026-presentations/  For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

For the second part of the 'Dairy Calf to Beef' series' on the Beef Edge, Teagasc Beef Specialist, David Argue, discusses what to be aware of when sourcing calves and the essential things to get right during the rearing process. David explains that when sourcing dairy-beef calves this spring, the health of the calf, breed and genetic make-up are very important. Avoid any signs of ill health, and minimise stress around purchase and transport.  Good ventilation, bedding, and stocking density are important to reduce disease. David says that a good milk replacer is essential an keeping a routine at feeding time is important. Daily liveweight gain should ideally double from purchase at 3 weeks of age to 12 weeks of age gaining 0.8kg/head/day.   It is essential that the calf has a well-developed rumen and maximises early life performance to ensure good thrive going forward. David also highlights that developing a farm-specific health plan with a vet is key to ensure issues from previous years are resolved and overcome. Further details at:https://teagasc.ie/animals/beef/dairy-calf-to-beef/dairybeef-500/dairybeef-500-factsheets/nutritional-management-of-the-dairy-beef-calf/ Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Conference 2026 The Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Conference 2026 will take place on Thursday, January 29th at 7pm at Ballykisteen Hotel, Limerick Junction, County Tipperary, E34 VK12. For more information on the conference: https://teagasc.ie/event/dairybeef-500-conference/ For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

This week's Dairy Edge is from a recent Teagasc webinar entitled, ‘TB Update – Understanding the Recent Changes for Your Dairy Farm.' TB continues to be a major challenge for the dairy sector, with herd incidence rising above 6% in 2024. There are now significant changes being introduced through the new TB Action Plan. James Dunne hosted the webinar and was joined by Damien Barrett, Head of the Ruminant Animal Health Programme with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and Joe Patton, Head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer with Teagasc.  Together, they outlined the key policy changes, current TB trends, and what these developments mean in practical terms for dairy farmers, particularly around herd management, animal movement and biosecurity. Link to webinar:https://youtu.be/naefVhMC-ZU Link to new TB action plan:https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/d4cfc18d/7784-DAFM_TB_Action_Plan_LR.pdf For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

For this week's Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher has a few tips before the grazing season gets going and he gives a summary of the farmers' contributions from Nutrient Management Week 2026. Read more from this week's Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:https://bit.ly/Grass10-20thJanuary For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

Setting up the fertiliser spreader correctly is important to ensure accurate and even placement of fertiliser. John Corbett from Grassland Agro joins John Maher for the final daily episode as part of Nutrient Management Week to discuss this important aspect of nutrient application and management. Join us on the Dairy Edge each day of Nutrient Management Week for special episodes from farmers and experts and for more go to:https://teagasc.ie/news--events/news/grass10-nutrient-management-week-2026/  For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

For today's episode as part of Nutrient Management Week, Grass10's John Maher is joined by Mike Ahern who is farming near Ballyduff, Co. Waterford.  Mike was the winner of the Nutrient Management category as well as the overall winner of that Grassland Farmer of the Year Competition in 2024 and he talks to John about the importance of driving growth with early fertiliser application on his farm as well as how to use GPS technology to minimise losses to ensure you get full value from the fertiliser allowances for your farm. Join us on the Dairy Edge each day of Nutrient Management Week for special episodes from farmers and experts and for more go to:https://teagasc.ie/news--events/news/grass10-nutrient-management-week-2026/  For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

One of the highlights of the Irish tillage calendar is the Teagasc National Tillage Conference, a must-attend event to hear about the latest research, innovation and agronomy.  For this week's Tillage Edge, Dr. Ewen Mullins, Head of Crop Science at Teagasc, previews what to expect this year.   To register for the National Tillage conference visit: https://teagasc.ie/crops/crops/events/#NTC2026  For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

Continuing the daily episodes as part of Nutrient Management Week, today John Maher talks about timing of applications to maximise their return, the rates to apply to find the balance between driving growth and mitigating potential environmental losses and how getting soil fertility right improves the return from applied nutrients thus being an important factor in minimising potential nutrient loss also. Plus he speaks to Mike Ahern who is farming near Ballyduff, Co. Waterford. Mike was the winner of the Nutrient Management category as well as the overall winner of that Grassland Farmer of the Year Competition in 2024.Join us on the Dairy Edge each day of Nutrient Management Week for special episodes from farmers and experts and for more go to:https://teagasc.ie/news--events/news/grass10-nutrient-management-week-2026/For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

In the first part of a ‘Dairy Calf to Beef' series on the Teagasc Beef Edge podcast, DairyBeef 500 Manager, Alan Dillon, discusses the key performance indicators of a sustainable, profitable dairy beef system. Alan outlines the importance of increased grass utilisation, improved silage quality, a good herd health plan and daily liveweight gains and the impact breed and commercial beef value can have in a dairy beef system.  Age at slaughter is fam and system specific and Alan discusses the impact both have on margin. Completion and analysis of the DairyBeef 500 profit monitors is currently underway. Alan discusses variable and fixed costs on the farm and the impact calf price can have. Teagasc DairyBeef 500 ConferenceThe Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Conference 2026 will take place on Thursday, January 29th at 7pm at Ballykisteen Hotel, Limerick Junction, County Tipperary, E34 VK12. Featuring an array of expert speakers, the conference will cover some of the important areas of dairy calf to beef production. A panel discussion with farmers and advisors will discuss the areas of focus for 2026 while also reflecting on the positives from 2025. For more information on the conference, visit here: https://teagasc.ie/event/dairybeef-500-conference/  For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

As part of Nutrient Management Week, Grass10's, John Maher, speaks to Michael Carroll from Co. Limerick. Michael was one of the joint winners of the Nutrient Management category at the 2023 Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year awards.  He won this award for his understanding of managing slurry on his farm to drive grass growth and reduce his chemical N inputs and today he shares his way of looking at and managing slurry to reduce his chemical N input without compromising on the growth required to feed his herd as much grass as possible.Join us on the Dairy Edge each day of Nutrient Management Week for special episodes from farmers and experts and for more go to:https://teagasc.ie/news--events/news/grass10-nutrient-management-week-2026/ For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

Teagasc Advisor, Edward Egan, joins us on this week's OviCast to explain about how to make the most of scanning results. Edward shares insights from over a decade of working with farmer discussion groups to help them use their scanning data more effectively to monitor flock performance.  He discusses both the short-term actions that can improve outcomes immediately, and the long-term management changes that can enhance flock efficiency and productivity over time. We also explore some of the trends and patterns Edward has observed throughout the years.  For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Philip Murphy, Co-ordinator of the Blackwater Catchment Programme, and Pat Tuohy, Senior Researcher at Teagasc, join Stuart Childs to discuss effective use of nutrients and avoiding losses. Pat discusses recent research across 100 farms that he has completed on behalf of the Dept. of Agriculture that is showing slurry production rates are about 20% higher than the current regulatory assumptions (≈0.4 m³/cow/week vs 0.33m3). This means many farms that may currently be compliant on the basis of the current regulations, do not have sufficient physical storage, leading to pressure to spread slurry at less than ideal times. Both Pat and Philip talk about how this situation is forcing poor nutrient management decisions as when storage runs tight, farmers end up spreading slurry in poor weather/soil conditions.  The return for these applied nutrients are lower and the risk of nutrient loss to water can also be greater so increased storage capacities would help take away pressure but also improve nutrient recovery subsequently. Philip speaks about the role of buffer zones for protected waterways and says that expanded buffer zone requirements (e.g. 10 m near waterways early/late in the spreading season vs 5 m for the rest of the year), risky fields, and wet soil conditions can remove 10–25% of land area from safe spreading. Storage capacity is therefore essential to provide flexibility. Both emphasise that adequate and indeed excess storage, allows slurry to be applied at the right time, rate, and place, improving nutrient efficiency, protecting water quality, avoiding soil damage from heavy machinery, and maximising the value of home-produced nutrients. For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

For the first Grass10 grazing management update of the year, John Maher highlights key practices to get grazing in 2026 off to a good start and he discusses the upcoming Nutrient Management Week which runs from Mon 19th-Fri 23rd January. Read more from this week's Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:http://bit.ly/13thJanuary2026 For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

John Mahon, Tillage Signpost Programme Advisor, discusses why proving the low-carbon grain advantage matters, the limits of existing data, and why annual, representative figures from Irish tillage farms are essential to meet buyer requirements and ultimately support increased payments for low-carbon grain.  This episode of the Tillage Edge outlines what farmers need to know and why participation is critical for securing long-term value for Irish grain. For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

Michelle McGrath, Calf Care Programme Manager with Animal Health Ireland, joins James Dunne on this week's Dairy Edge to discuss the importance of good calf care and management as we move towards the busy calving period on farms.  Michelle highlights best practice regarding colostrum management, calf rearing and weaning whilst also outlining what farmers can learn from the current Teagasc/Animal Health Ireland Calf Care events which are happening across the country.  To find out more visit:https://teagasc.ie/corporate-events/calfcare-events/ For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

We're reposting one of the most popular episodes from last year with Laurence Shalloo, Head of the Animal and Grassland Programme in Teagasc Moorepark, who joined Stuart Childs to discuss the future challenges facing the dairy industry. Laurence starts by acknowledging that there is a constant state of flux in the world now and that we are constantly adapting to change. This is no different to what we did in the run-in to the milk quota removal. Laurence talks about the pent up energy in the industry post-quota removal that has delivered a 100% increase in milk solids production from just a 50% increase in cows, indicating the advances made in terms of productivity. There are always challenges and costs were high on the agenda again in 2025 as there has been an upward shift in costs. There is a need to focus on getting on top of them again and key to that is efficiency and growing the cheapest feed we can – grass. The other challenges facing the industry include generation renewal as some of the people that have delivered the expansion are now looking for the person to carry on the business.  Greenhouse gas emissions and water quality challenges also exist but are trending in the right direction and can be overcome by implementing the research.  For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com 

Fermanagh man, Rodney Elliott, who is farming in the US state of South Dakota, joins James Dunne for the second part of his interview discussing recruiting and managing staff, herd breeding objectives, animal performance and herd nutrition. He also offers insights into what he has learned along the way and why he is as passionate about dairy farming today as he was 20 years ago. Image: https://www.midwestdairy.com  For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

Fermanagh man Rodney Elliott, who is farming in the US state of South Dakota, joins James Dunne on this week's Dairy Edge.  In the first of a two part interview, Rodney outlines how he went from farming 140 dairy cows in Maguiresbridge, Co Fermanagh to operating two large scale dairy units in the US.  He describes how the business has grown over time, some of the challenges met along the way and how he overcame them.  Rodney discusses what farming KPIs matter in the running of the business and how he manages costs and market volatility.  Image: https://www.midwestdairy.com  For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

For this week's episode of the Dairy Edge, in conjunction with Catherine Egan of the Beef Edge and Ciaran Lynch of OviCast, we talk to John Donlon, veterinary lecturer in Atlantic Technological University about bluetongue. John first describes the disease and explains how it presents in sheep, cattle, alpacas and other cloven hooved animals. He then explains how, in reality, the risk period should have passed at this stage of the year as midges that act as the vector for the disease should be gone by now. The cold weather is a help in that midge activity will be reduced or eliminated but that doesn't mean the risk isn't still there. People must remain vigilant and notify their vet and relevant authorities in the event of suspecting an animal has bluetongue. Trading implications could exist were a case to be identified in the Republic which would have ramifications for livestock movements, but currently there are no restrictions as the country is still bluetongue free. If a case were to be discovered, vaccines are available to reduce the severity of the disease but one would have to get an emergency license from the Department of Agriculture. Careful monitoring of stock for any signs are advised and swift notification, if identified, to facilitate rapid control is advised. For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

For this week's final Grass10 grazing management update of the year, John Maher discusses current grazing advice, including opening cover targets and fodder assessment, plus he looks back on the grazing year in review. Read more from this week's Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:https://bit.ly/Grass10-9thDecember2025   For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

We're reposting an episode from October with Teagasc Dairy Specialist, Patrick Gowing, who joined James Dunne on the Dairy Edge to discuss how to best manage surplus cash, build financial resilience, review production costs, and ensure farmers are best prepared for 2026. As 2025 draws to a close, it will be remembered as one of the best farming years in recent memory due to strong milk prices, increased stock values and good weather for most parts. This means that dairy farm incomes are in a good place for the 2025 calendar year.   Although it has to be acknowledged milk prices have seen significant reductions in the last number of months, the effects of this will be felt more so in spring 2026 as higher constituents at this time of year are having a positive impact on the farm gate prices received.   For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

For this week's Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses current grazing advice. Read more from this week's Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:https://bit.ly/Grass10-2ndDec2025 For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

Teagasc hosted the National Dairy Conference last week in both Clonmel and Cavan, and the theme of the conference was, ‘Pathways to Progress', with key sessions on milk price and key farm performance priorities, collaborative farming arrangements and driving further progress in Irish dairy breeding.  James Dunne caught up with Joe Patton, Martina Gormley and Stuart Childs to gain an insight into some of the main messages from the conference. Link to conference papers and presentations: https://teagasc.ie/publications/national-dairy-conference-2025/ For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

For this week's Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses current grazing advice. Read more from this week's Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:https://bit.ly/Grass10-25thNov25 For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

Edmund Motherway, from Ladysbridge, near Midleton, was the Overall Winner of the Student Section of the Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year Awards and he joins Stuart Childs on this week's Dairy Edge. Edmund was always interested in farming as a child, however, due to the scale of the home farm, he didn't think he had a future in farming. A transition year placement at a nearby father and son partnership opened his eyes to ways to potentially making farming a viable career option. Edmund is now farming in partnership with his father and they have expanded their land base in the last 12-18 months through leasing and as a result have pushed up their cow numbers.  Edmund also acknowledges the significant influence that the two farmers that he did his placements with have had on him and how he got such benefit from his time with them. Finally, he outlines what he would like to see to encourage generational renewal including a potential incentive to lease to a young farmer or revision of TAMS costings to more accurately reflect the true cost of machinery and building works so that a 40% grant would be just that.  He is hopeful that other opportunities to expand will present themselves and that they will be in a position to act on them if they come. Don't forget, this week the National Dairy Conferences are being held in Clonmel and Cavan on November 26th and 27th and for more info, go to: https://teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/events/  For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

For this week's Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses current grazing advice, while the featured farmer is Mike Ahern from Ballyduff, Co. Waterford. Read more from this week's Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:https://bit.ly/Grass10-18thNov25 For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

Joe Patton, Head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer in Teagasc, joins Stuart Childs on the latest Dairy Edge to preview the upcoming Dairy Conferences. With sudden drops in milk price catching many farmers off guard and even many of those who work in the area of forecasting prices, Joe explains, however, that the best-performing farms remain the best ones regardless of price cycles. Farmers shouldn't overhaul their system each time the price rises or falls. Instead, consistent fundamentals — good cows, strong grazing management, stable stocking rates and control of costs are what carry farms through the lows of the volatility cycle. High-margin farms succeed because they invest strategically rather than overspending on the back of a good year only to find themselves short of cash in a tight year. Joe emphasises the need for cash planning, avoiding impulsive “tax-driven” spending and having approximately €500 per cow available to get through to the next big milk cheques in late spring. Joe also highlights the long-term value created by EBI-driven genetic improvement, the growing role of data (grass prediction tools, cost benchmarks), and the importance of collaborative farming and succession planning. These enable better decision-making, smoother transitions between generations, and continued productivity despite policy and cost pressures. If you want to hear more on these topics, you are welcome to attend the National Dairy Conferences in either Clonmel or Cavan on November 26th and 27th and for more info, go to: https://teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/events/ For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

For this week's Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses current grazing advice and setting up for the spring, while the featured farmer is Gerry Finneran, Carrignavar, Co. Cork. Read more from this week's Grass10 newsletter at:https://bit.ly/Grass10-11thNov25 For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

Philip Murphy, Catchment Coordinator for the River Blackwater, joins Stuart Childs on this week's Dairy Edge to discuss applying water quality and addressing it. Philip explains that his role focuses on addressing agricultural pressures on water quality across the wider Blackwater catchment, beyond the already targeted high-priority areas, through providing clear, consistent advice to farmers and advisors, helping to raise awareness where one-to-one guidance is not currently available. He outlines how targeted areas are selected using EPA monitoring data and highlights the difference between nitrogen and phosphorus impacts, noting phosphorus affects rivers while nitrogen impacts in the estuaries. Finally, Philip emphasises that improvements take time, often years, but farmers are already doing positive work. His key message is for farmers to engage with advisors, consider schemes like Farming for Water, and continue adopting practical, farm-specific measures to protect local water quality. For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

For this week's Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses current grazing advice, while the featured farmer is Will Griffin, Co. Carlow. Read more from this week's Grass10 newsletter at:https://bit.ly/Grass10-4thNovember25  For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

Aisling Claffey, Teagasc ruminant nutritionist, joins James Dunne on this week's Dairy Edge to discuss what's important to remember when it comes to the upcoming dry cow period. For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com