Podcasts about Teagasc

On this week's Tillage Podcast we walked crops in Tipperary with Dairygold agronomist Tim McCarthy. We hear from Teagasc's VJ Bhaskar on glyphosate resistance and we have all the latest news, the grain trends and the weather reports. The Tillage Podcast is supported by Bayer Crop Science. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Teagasc Grass10 Advisor, Joseph Dunphy, has the monthly update on grassland management. In this episode, Joseph discusses:·      Current grass growth rates and average farm covers·      Tips for managing grass supply through April into early May·      How to handle surpluses and maintain short residency periods·      Fertiliser options for silage ground·      Considerations for spring reseeding Whether you're actively grass measuring or just looking to stay ahead this season, Joseph offers practical, timely advice to help optimise grazing performance. You can subscribe 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

David Buckley from the Department of Agriculture joins us to discuss the 2025 National Sheep Welfare Scheme and the Sheep Improvement Scheme. David outlines key elements of the Welfare Scheme, including eligible tasks, increased payment rates, and compliance requirements. We also cover the application process, key dates, and record-keeping obligations. The conversation then shifts to the Sheep Improvement Scheme—now in its third year—as we explore some of the key tasks involved and the opportunities available for new entrants. We finish up with a look at the 2025 payment schedule.For more information:2025 National sheep welfare scheme: https://www.gov.ie/en/service/b253f-national-sheep-welfare-scheme/Sheep Improvement Scheme: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/services/sheep-improvement-scheme/For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Dr. Patrick Forrestal, Teagasc and Dr. Aoife Egan, Water EIP, joined Mark Gibson on the latest podcast version of the Signpost Series to discuss the potential of plantain to reduce nitrate leaching in pasture systems: results from a five soil study. A questions and answers session took place at the end of the webinar which was facilitated by Teagasc's Cathal Somers. To register for future webinars visit:https://www.teagasc.ie/corporate-events/sustainable-agriculture-webinars/                        For more podcasts from the Signpost Series go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/signpostpodcast/ 

Crops are growing rapidly, and careful management is essential to prevent lodging before harvest.  For this week's Tillage Edge, Michael Hennessy is joined by Dr. Richie Hackett from Teagasc Oak Park to discuss strategies for reducing lodging risk and the best use of plant growth regulators (PGRs). Richie explains that high nitrogen rates and fertile fields are most vulnerable to lodging, and he also explains that variety selection plays a key role, noting that Champion winter wheat is more prone to lodging than most other wheats on the recommended list 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 this week's Grass10 grazing management update, as excellent grazing conditions prevail, Joseph Dunphy discusses managing supply and he has a grazing update from David French, Co. Wexford. Link to this week's Grass10 newsletter:https://bit.ly/Grass10-1stApril 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

University College Dublin (UCD) and Teagasc have today announced that applications are now open for the second Food and Agriculture Sustainable Technology Innovation Programme (FAST-IP) which begins this September. FAST-IP, a specialist agrifood technology innovation programme, provides participants with the skills necessary to evaluate, select and validate ideas for new products and services in the agrifood sector and to accelerate the commercialisation pathway of these ideas. Aligned with Ireland's national agrifood strategy, Food Vision 2030, FAST-IP also aims to support establishing Ireland as a leader in sustainable food systems by balancing climate-smart agriculture, environmental and economic sustainability, and innovation. Participants on the inaugural programme, which ends in August, are currently developing business plans for new market ready innovations in areas ranging from soil health, food allergens, pest control and bioeconomy. Twelve (12) places are available on the full-time, 12-month, in-person programme aimed at mid-career professionals, which is delivered by the UCD School of Biosystems and Food Engineering in partnership with Teagasc at the AgTechUCD Innovation Centre at UCD Lyons Farm in Co. Kildare. FAST-IP provides participants with a €38,000 tax-free scholarship during the programme. Edel Mitchell, Programme Manager, FAST-IP, said, "We are delighted to open applications for our second FAST-IP programme. This is a wonderful opportunity for mid-career professionals to embrace their entrepreneurial ambitions and develop market led solutions to real problems experienced by the global agrifood sector. The practical needs led innovation process enables participants to deep dive and forensically understand pressing challenges for the agrifood sector and build innovative solutions. If you are interested in embarking on this journey and leveraging the unparallelled access to industry experts, mentorship and cross sectoral immersive opportunities I would encourage you to apply for the FAST-IP programme." FAST-IP uses design-thinking methodologies and has a practical focus. Through the programme participants, working in teams, learn how to conduct needs-led innovation to develop market validated solutions to unmet needs in the areas of agricultural technology and food sustainability sectors. Participants also spend 8-10 weeks immersed in agricultural environments including farms, food processing companies, and Teagasc locations throughout the 12-month programme. Dr Siobhán Jordan, Head of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, Teagasc, said, "FAST-IP aims to position Ireland as a global innovator in AgTech and food systems by fostering the creation of high-potential start-ups, scalable businesses and sustainable solutions that address challenges in areas including, climate change, food security, productivity and economic diversification. We are now seeking applications from mid-career individuals who are interested in embarking on this cutting-edge, immersive programme to create innovative, sustainable agri-food solutions with expert mentorship and entrepreneurial training by UCD and Teagasc." FAST-IP is accredited by UCD at Level 9 on the National Qualifications Framework and participants who complete the programme will be awarded a Graduate Diploma in Agrifood, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Professor Nick Holden, Professor of Biosystems Engineering in the UCD School of Biosystems and Food Engineering is the Academic Director of the Graduate Diploma Programme. The FAST-IP programme, running until the end of 2029, forms part of Enterprise Ireland's Innovators' Initiative which is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. UCD and Teagasc have strong reputations for academic and research excellence in the areas of Sustainable Food Systems, Agriculture, and Food Science, and are utilising their extensive networks, connections, domain ...

For this month's Pig Edge podcast, we're featuring highlights from a recent episode of the Tillage Edge focusing on the benefits of using pig slurry as an alternative to chemical fertilisers in tillage farming. Pig production is one of the main consumers of Irish cereals and the resulting slurry produced on units can be an important source of nutrients for tillage crops. Opportunities for greater co-operation between the two sectors, from diversifying cereal production to increased use of pig slurry on crops, can lead to a stronger bio-circular economy, with resultant economic benefits for both parties.On this episode, Michael Hennessy, host and head of the Teagasc Crops Knowledge Department, was joined by Tillage Specialist ,Ciaran Collins, and our own Specialised Advisor, Michael McKeon, to discuss the various management considerations of utilising pig slurry on tillage farms. For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

Teagasc researcher, Sarah Burke, is on this week's Beef edge podcast to discuss her latest research on grass-white clover and multi-species sward systems.  A source of inefficiency in beef cattle production systems is the failure to meet live weight targets throughout the animals' lifetime, resulting in animals being older at slaughter. Consequently, lifetime production costs, which are mainly feed-related, and the associated environmental emissions, particularly methane and nitrogen, are increased.  Nationally, mean age at slaughter for late-maturing suckler-bred steers, the predominant breed type from the suckler herd, is 28-months. This is five months later than achieved in grass-based research systems and high-performing commercial farms. Within beef production systems, older animals at slaughter are generally less profitable and have a substantially higher environmental footprint. Sarah highlights that for many decades, perennial ryegrass has been the dominant, sometimes the only, constituent included in grass seed mixtures used to renew grassland. More recently, white clover has been included. Compared to ‘grass' based swards, Teagasc Grange research has shown the capacity of white clover inclusion to fix atmospheric N, resulting in annual savings of chemical fertiliser, equivalent to 100-150kg N/ha, for beef cattle grazing systems.  There is now increasing interest in using ‘multi-species' swards to further exploit complementarity between pasture species which include:·      grasses - perennial ryegrass and other grasses·      legumes - white and red clover·      herbs/forbs - e.g chicory and plantain Sarah's research investigated the growth and carcass characteristics of late-maturing suckler steers genetically divergent for carcass fatness, produced on grass-white clover and multi-species sward systems and finished at 19, 23 or 26 months of age.  It was based on the two years data collected to date at Teagasc Grange and it concluded that growth performance of suckler beef cattle grazing grass-clover and multi-species swards, or offered silages conserved from these pastures, was similar. Sarah also discussed how the Fat-EBV steers achieved greater carcass fat scores and a similar carcass weight compared to lean-EBV steers. Sarah will be presenting her research at the British Society of Animal Science 2025 conference next week 8-10 April in Salthill in Galway where the theme will be ‘Supporting Livestock's Role in a Global Society'. For further details go to: https://www.bsas.org.uk/conference-2025 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  

Teagasc Specialist, Mark Plunkett, joins us on this week's OviCast to explore the nutrient requirements for this year's silage crop.  Mark provides valuable insights into the nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) demands of a silage crop, detailing how slurry and farmyard manure contribute to nutrient supply and what additional inputs may be necessary to achieve optimal yields. We also discuss the essential role of sulphur and why it should be incorporated into fertiliser applications.  Additionally, Mark offers guidance on selecting appropriate fertilisers for grazing applications and strategies for replenishing nutrient offtakes throughout the summer. For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Michael O'Donovan, Head of the Grassland Science Department at Teagasc Moorepark joins James Dunne on this week's Dairy Edge. Michael discusses the grassland performance on Irish dairy farms over the last number of years, how farmers can increase the amount of pasture grown on farm and outlines key decisions that need to be made over the coming weeks to ensure high levels of animal performance over the coming months. 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

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, has today announced a €17.7 million investment in nine research infrastructure projects through Research Ireland's Research Infrastructure Programme. The awards will contribute to the advancement of high-quality and high-impact research activities across Ireland. Announcing the funding, Minister Lawless commented: "This targeted investment in research infrastructure will help to future-proof the conducting of high-quality research endeavours across our higher education institutions and in a wide range of disciplines. It is important for researchers to be equipped with the innovative tools and the conducive environments that can help deliver research excellence and impact." In welcoming the announcement, Celine Fitzgerald, Interim Chief Executive of Research Ireland, said: "The Research Infrastructure Programme supports the research community in building and sustaining cutting-edge infrastructure to accomplish high-quality, impactful, and innovative research. The programme encourages partnerships and collaboration between different cohorts of researchers in Ireland, across academia and enterprise." Nine Irish research infrastructure projects The nine funded projects are: Coastal & Offshore ASV (Autonomous Surface Vehicle), University of Limerick, led by Prof. Gerard Dooly, aims to acquire a coastal and offshore autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) with a length of 9 meters and a range of 2500 nautical miles. This will enhance Ireland's marine science capabilities, bridge data gaps, and improve our understanding of ocean habitats. (€1,851,784) Cryo Electron Microscopy Unit National Platform, University College Dublin, led by Prof. Oliver Blacque, will establish a cryo-EM unit for high-resolution 3D visualisation of biological structures, aiding various biomedical research applications. (€3,749,322) NMR Centre of Expertise, Trinity College Dublin, led by Prof. Mathias Senge, will provide advanced NMR techniques for chemistry research, including a multi-channel 600MHz NMR and a 400MHz instrument for high-throughput analyses. (€2,649,497) Photon Counting CT for Cardiovascular and Oncology Research, Trinity College Dublin, led by Prof. James Meaney, will expand imaging capabilities with a Photon-counting CT scanner for advanced medical imaging in oncology and cardiovascular research. (€2,721,339) National Enteric Methane Mitigation Testbed, Teagasc, led by Dr Stephen Butler, will develop strategies to reduce methane emissions from ruminant animals, contributing to climate change mitigation. (€1,983,502) Characterising Earth Materials using Multi-Sensor Core Logger Analysis (Earth SCAn), University College Dublin, led by Prof. Peter Haughton, will advance the characterisation of Earth materials for interdisciplinary research into climate change, energy, and geohazards. (€600,113) Advanced Material Characterisation and Imaging Platform, Dublin City University, led by Dr Karsten Fleischer, will enhance material analysis capabilities with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for various applications in ICT, energy, and medical devices. (€2,251,897) C-Trap: A Dynamic Single Molecule Platform for Chemical Biology and Biophysics, Dublin City University, led by Prof. Andrew Kellett, will enable single-molecule analysis for understanding molecular mechanisms of diseases, aiding biopharmaceutical and therapeutic research. (€948,901) Automated X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), University College Dublin, led by Prof. Eoin Casey, will replace aging XPS equipment to enhance surface analysis capabilities for various research and industry applications. (€986,952) The awardees are from the following research bodies: University of Limerick (UL), University College Dublin (UCD), Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Teagasc, and Dublin City University (DCU). See more breaking stories here.

Taking a break from the busy calving season to join us on this week's Young Stock Podcast is Kate Fitzgerald. From a young age, Kate had a passion for livestock and farming. She would run home from school to help her father on their suckler farm outside Dungarvan. Unfortunately, her father passed away from suicide in 2017, which meant they had to make the hard decision to sell out the herd. At the age of 21, Kate got the cows ready for the sale and took on a full-time job in the local factory to support her family. We discuss her return to farming and why she decided to leave her full-time job to come into the farm enterprise with her husband, Shane and his father, John. She talks about completing the Teagasc green-cert in Kildalton and how she found the distant learning course. Being a woman in the sector, we talk about speaking up in discussion groups and the importance of having your say. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Flo Blackbourn, Manager, Curlew Action UK, joined Cathal Somers on the latest podcast version of the Signpost Series to discuss ‘Action Now for Curlews Tomorrow'. A questions and answers session took place at the end of the webinar which was facilitated by Teagasc's Catherine Keena. To register for future webinars visit: https://www.teagasc.ie/corporate-events/sustainable-agriculture-webinars/                        For more podcasts from the Signpost Series go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/signpostpodcast/ 

Grass10 Advisor Niamh Doyle has her grassland management tips for the month ahead. Niamh comments on current grazing conditions, grazing  the first rotation and regrowths on the first paddocks.She also discusses closing up for silage and the importance of completing a fodder budget and using slurry efficiently. It is critical to assess the correct balance between quality and quantity. You can subscribe to the Grass10 newsletter here:https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/grassland/grass10/grass10-enewsletter/ 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

For this week's Grass10 grazing management update, as AFC drops with the excellent grazing conditions, Joseph Dunphy discusses feeding the cow appropriately, plus he has a grazing update from Eoin Corrigan, Co. Meath. Link to this week's Grass10 newsletter: https://bit.ly/Grass10-25thMarch  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

On this week's Tillage Podcast we have an update on fieldwork, talk to Teagasc's Steven Kildea on disease control, Luke Thornton of Omex on the do's and don'ts of applying liquid nitrogen, we look at this week's paper and as always have the grain trends and weather reports. The Tillage Podcast is supported by Bayer Crop Science. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the weather allowing farmers to plant crops and treat winter crops in ideal conditions, the only concern is the harsh wind which was slowing growth.  For this episode of The Tillage Edge, Michael Hennessy is joined by Teagasc tillage specialists, Shay Phelan and Ciaran Collins, to discuss how crops are progressing and the key management steps needed in the next couple of weeks. Shay highlighted concerns about yellow rust emerging in crops nationwide, particularly in susceptible varieties in the northeast and he urges all growers to inspect their fields for signs of the disease. 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  

Teagasc Beef Specialist, David Argue, is on this week's Beef Edge discussing cattle finished so far this year and, given current increasing beef prices, budgets for the coming months. So far this year up to March 16th, 398,076 cattle have been finished according to the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine. This is an increase of almost 11,000 head of cattle in comparison to the same time last year. With regards to live exports, tighter cattle supplies across Europe and movement restrictions implemented in some key cattle trading markets due to the spread of bluetongue, are key contributing factors behind the continued firm demand for Irish cattle in key export markets in the early weeks of 2025. The 2025 calf trade has been slower to start in line with later calf registrations, however, it has increased strongly in week ending 2nd March. There has been a total of 18,963 calves exported since the start of 2025, a 58% decrease on the same time period in 2024.  Quotes from major processors have continued to trend upward and this has been reflected in a balance between supply and demand currently in favour of producers.  With farmers with forward stores questioning whether they should go to grass or be kept in and finished, David highlights some key considerations and costs of production ranging from €215 to €311. When looking at a 400kg store animal, David discusses the costs of production for a 20 months store or 24 month finished steer with costs ranging from €126 to €476. David advises the importance of looking at the costs of the production system and take all other factors into account. 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  

Sheep specialist, Michael Gottstein, joins us on this week's OviCast to discuss how to stay ahead of potential issues in the flock post-turnout.Michael provides insights into the current situation on farms and shares practical advice for maintaining performance, especially where grass supplies are tight. He explains why managing a separate group of problem ewes and lambs can be a beneficial strategy.We also cover key health concerns, including the treatment and prevention of grass tetany, as well as common challenges farmers may face - ranging from mastitis and lameness to coccidiosis in lambs.For more episodes from the OviCast podcast, visit the show page at:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast

Sean Coughlan, CEO of the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF), joins Stuart Childs on this week's Dairy Edge to discuss Irish dairy, dairy beef breeding and everything in between. Sean discusses the National Genotyping Programme, the changes that they have made to improve for 2025 and how they have even more herds taken into the programme and will be looking to recruit more later on this year with the long term view to have a fully genotyped national herd in the future. Sean highlights what he feels might be a lost opportunity in that we're not able to filter some of the surplus replacements from the top EBI herds to the lower genetic merit herds. He would love to see the top herds breed the replacements for the bottom herds as it is just too much of a mountain to climb for those lower genetic merit herds and the performance levels that those top herds are actually achieving is so good: 500 litres more milk; producing 53 kilos more milk solids per cow; 16 days better calving interval which is translating into a 12% better 6 week calving rate, and low CO2 emissions. Sean also spoke about the potential of dairy beef by choosing easy calving sires that have more carcass weight than the easy calving bull as was often the choice in the past – no extra calving difficulty but significantly better beef merit calves. Sean then outlines some changes that are on the cards for the EBI this year such as a review of the economic values used in the index and a base change to reflect better the cows that are now in the country. Sean finishes by outlining how the benefits of genomics in terms of its ability to identify lethal genes such as HH3 which results in embryonic death. Identifying the carriers and using sire advice to avoid the breeding of positive cows and bulls can eliminate this negative embryonic death which is a major issue for seasonal calving systems.  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 Connolly, Assistant Professor in Physical Geography, Trinity College Dublin, joined Mark Gibson on the latest podcast version of the Signpost Series to discuss Ireland's hidden peatlands A questions and answers session took place at the end of the webinar which was facilitated by Teagasc's Catherine Keena. To register for future webinars visit:https://www.teagasc.ie/corporate-events/sustainable-agriculture-webinars/                        For more podcasts from the Signpost Series go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/signpostpodcast/ 

For this week's Grass10 grazing management update, Joseph Dunphy discusses managing the remaining grazing area on the 1st rotation and he has a grazing update from Shane Seymour, Co. Tipperary. Link to this week's Grass10 newsletter:https://bit.ly/Grass10-18thMarch  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 explore the benefits of using pig slurry as an alternative to chemical fertilisers in tillage farming on the latest Tillage Edge podcast.  Michael McKeon, Teagasc pig specialist, and Ciaran Collins, Teagasc tillage specialist, discuss how to target the use of pig slurry on tillage farms.  We cover best practices for application, nutrient replacement, transport logistics, and regulatory considerations, while Michael explains that pig farmers are well used to organising the logistics of getting slurry to the tillage farm.   Teagasc are also running an event in Matty Moore's farm in Offaly looking at applying pig slurry to winter crops using an umbilical cord system.  For more information:https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/national-events/events/signpost-tillage-walk.php 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  

Teagasc Future Beef farmer, Proinnsias Creedon, and his advisor, James Mullane, are on this week's Beef Edge Podcast with an update on the farm and how Proinnsias is managing grass this spring.  Proinnsias also explains his calf-to-beef system and how he manages balancing working off farm. The excellent paddock system on the farm has been a big benefit to improving his grazing management and Proinnsias discusses spring grazing and his plan in the coming weeks. Proinnsias is hosting a spring grass walk on his farm on 26th March @ 3pm, while Future Beef farmer, Cathal Irwin, from Castlebar, Co. Mayo, will also host a walk on his farm on Friday 28th March @ 5pm. For more details go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/beef/demonstration-farms/future-beef-programme/events  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  

Jesmond Harding, Conservation Officer, Butterfly Conservation Ireland, joined Cathal Somers on the latest podcast version of the Signpost Series to discuss encouraging Irish butterflies on farmland. A questions and answers session took place at the end of the webinar which was facilitated by Teagasc's Catherine Keena. To register for future webinars visit:https://www.teagasc.ie/corporate-events/sustainable-agriculture-webinars/                        For more podcasts from the Signpost Series go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/signpostpodcast/ 

For this week's Grass10 grazing management update, and with the great grazing conditions, Joseph Dunphy discusses reviewing grazing progress throughout March and he has a grazing update from Dara Killeen, Co. Galway. Link to this week's Grass10 newsletter: https://bit.ly/Grass10-11thMarch  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

Researchers at University of Galway have created a new approach to finding peat soil, giving insight to where carbon is stored in the ground. Through a combination of state-of-the-art analytical techniques and data from the Geological Survey Ireland nationwide Tellus aerial survey, the research team has provided a revised picture of where peat soils are present across 80 % of Ireland, based on environmental gamma radiation measurements. The findings also offer huge potential to influence policy around land use and interventions to mitigate against greenhouse gas emissions. The study was led by Dr Eve Daly and Dr Dave O'Leary from the Hydrogeophysics and Remote Sensing research group at University of Galway in collaboration with Trinity College Dublin, Teagasc and Geological Survey Ireland. Lead author, Dr Dave O'Leary, PhD researcher, School of Natural Sciences, University of Galway, said: "Gamma rays are invisible, high-energy photons, like light, that are released during natural radioactive decay of materials in rocks and soils. Peat soils have a unique ability to block this type of naturally occurring radiation, drastically reducing the number of gamma rays detected by the sensor mounted on the Tellus aircraft when flying over peat soils." The research team focused on this trait of peat soils to train a machine learning algorithm to identify and provide confidence of similar soils occurring in the top 60 cm of the land where the Tellus survey has been flown to date. While peat depth cannot be directly measured this new analysis gave insights into the extent of peat soil and, importantly, identified the areas where soil changes from peat to mineral, which are typically hidden under things like forests and grasslands. Using this new research approach, the area of soil considered "peaty" within the Tellus geophysical survey potentially increased from 24 % to 30 %. The findings have been published in the leading soil science journal Geoderma. Soils are a mixture of broken bits of rock, water, and air. Peat soils are distinct from mineral soils as they are formed from decaying plant material, mixed with water and air, and contain a very high amount of carbon. When waterlogged, this carbon is stored in the soils and their value has been increasingly recognised in recent years. When water is removed, for example via drainage, peat soils then emit carbon dioxide as the decay process restarts. Dr O'Leary added: "In general, people are relatively familiar or have heard of radon, but what they might not know is that this is a by-product of naturally occurring uranium in the rocks below our feet, which also emits gamma radiation. There are several sources of this natural radiation in the environment and our study uses the unique relationship between this radiation and peat soils to identify where peat is likely to be present. "The Tellus survey has provided consistent coverage and measurements across about 80 % of the country at present. As this is a direct measurement from the soil, it allows us to create maps with boundaries showing realistic change from peat to mineral soils, regardless of what is covering the ground, be it trees or grass. "Few countries have invested in such an incredible dataset, which puts Ireland at the forefront of peatland mapping research. Importantly, the data is free to use. We hope that our research will encourage and incentivise other countries to invest in such surveys to meet their peatland mapping needs." Dr Eve Daly, Geophysicist and lecturer in Earth & Ocean Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Galway, said: "This study gives decision makers and regulators more accurate spatial data on the extent of peat soil in Ireland and will assist in highlighting specific areas that are suitable, or not, for interventions to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions." The study was funded by Geological Survey Ireland, a division of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. The full...

Teagasc/Tírlan Future Farm programme farmer, David Fennelly, joins James Dunne on this week's Dairy Edge to discuss how the busy calving period is progressing, and he outlines his grazing management to date.  David also explains how he will manage the coming weeks to ensure success as the herd heads towards peak production.   Plus, programme advisor, Sandra Hayes, highlights where the programme farmers are at with regards to grazing and nutrient management this spring.   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, Joseph Dunphy discusses reviewing your AFC in early March and he has a grazing update from the O'Callaghan family in Cork. Link to this week's Grass10 newsletter: https://bit.ly/Grass10-4thMarch 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

About the Guest Dr Martyna Lagoda holds a B.A degree in Science, Zoology, and an M.Sc degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare. Following the completion of her Ph.D in Sow Welfare (focus on sow chronic stress and its implications for piglet prenatal stress) at Teagasc, Ireland, in collaboration with the Institute of Genetics and Animal […]

Tommy Cox, Teagasc Dairy Beef500 Programme Advisor, joins Stuart Childs on this week's Dairy Edge to discuss calf sales this spring. Tommy outlines what farmers should do from the moment the calf hits the ground in order to have them as fit and healthy as they can when it comes to sale time. He discusses the important relationships that farmers are forging around the sale of calves in the last few years and how it is important that these are maintained for the good of both. While prices are strong presently, compared to previous years, Tommy argues that there is a value in the relationships that have been developed over the years and that people need to factor this in when setting the prices of calves. The price paid is a significant factor in the profitability at the end of the day and that is important for the future sustainability of the calf-beef farms. Tommy also explains that when buying a calf, a farmer should be looking for a healthy calf, a calf of known parentage, otherwise you are buying an unknown animal, and finally, to have a price that you can give for the calf but not to compromise on the health or the genetics of the calf in order to meet that price.    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, and with the challenging week's weather, Joseph Dunphy discusses getting one grazing per day and he has a grazing update from Ben and Robin Mooney, Co. Wicklow. Link to this week's Grass10 newsletter:https://bit.ly/Grass10-25thFebruary 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

Shane Leane, technical sales manager with Progressive Genetics, joins James Dunne on this week's Dairy Edge to discuss the importance of milk recording.  He also outlines how to ensure efficiency and accuracy throughout the process.  Plus, Shane discusses how to use to data to maximise the benefit to your herd.  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

This week, Karen and Meta discuss two recent events, and what they found interesting and potentially helpful in building a better future for equestrian sport.We discuss World Horse Welfare's recent virtual conference titled:"Accountability for welfare in equestrianism: Looking beyond the obvious"https://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/accountability-for-welfare-in-equestrianism-looking-beyond-the-obviousAnd also the latest offering from the Teagasc series, Let's Talk Equine, featuring our own Meta Osborne.https://www.teagasc.ie/rural-economy/rural-development/equine/lets-talk-equine-webinar-series/We hope you enjoy this bonus, and as always, reach out and share your thoughts and opinions and ideas for the future.Our email is: team@changingrein.com.au

Teagasc is recommending that farmers diversify by renting our parcels of their land as allotments to the local community. But, is this a pragmatic idea?Joining Seán to discuss is Mairead Lavery, former Farming Reporter…

For this week's Grass10 grazing management update, with the challenging weather, Joseph Dunphy discusses getting one grazing per day and he has a grazing update from John Finucane, Co. Limerick. Link to this week's Grass10 newsletter:https://bit.ly/Grass10-18thFeb 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 McCabe, Teagasc/Aurivo Joint Programme Advisor, joins Stuart Childs on this week's Dairy Edge to cover tips on grazing in spring. John first gives a range of scenarios that he has heard from across the country.  He encourages people to get grazing if not already. For those who are, they need to manage their grazing to ensure they don't leave themselves short of grass at the end of the 1st round. John advises to get cows into the habit of grazing by grazing lower cover – this will also help get ground grazed off and growing for the 2nd rotation. Then move to the heavier cover to take it off before it starts to deteriorate in mid-March. This will also aid recovery of this type of ground. Finally John says that it is very important to get early N out in the right conditions asap. The equivalent of a bale of silage/ha is up for grabs by doing it and if you're not in a position to do, seek the help of a contractor as you cannot afford to miss the early application of fertiliser.  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

Dr Emma Dillon, Senior Researcher at Teagasc.

Oifigeach Sinsireach Taighde le Teagasc agus éaneolaí. Tá comhdháil ar chaoire sléibhe le bheith ag Teagasc i nDún Garbhán Dé Céadaoin. Breis eolais tagtha chun cinn le déanaí faoi scéim chaomhnaithe Chromán na gCearc

For this week's Grass10 grazing management update, Joseph Dunphy discusses getting grazing allocations correct and he has a grazing update from Lauren Kinsella, Co. Carlow. Link to this week's Grass10 newsletter:https://bit.ly/Grass10-11thFeb 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

On this week's show we report from the Tirlán grain awards from markets to members and we hear from Teagasc's Bridget Lynch on cover crop trials. We have all the latest tillage news including tillage payments, cuts to Boortmalt contracts and forward prices. As always, we have the grain market and weather reports. The Tillage Podcast is supported by Bayer Crop Science. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Wall, Teagasc Researcher at Johnstown Castle, joins James Dunne on this week's Dairy Edge to discuss correct nutrient management use on dairy farms this spring.  David outlines how the correct timing, rate and type of fertiliser is key to ensure efficient use of the nutrients available on farm.  He makes the point that when conditions are correct, it would be an opportunity lost not to apply the required nutrients in order to increase the amount of grass grown and set the farm up for subsequent grazings. 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, Joseph Dunphy discusses attending a spring pasture morning near you and asks can you start grazing on your farm? Link to this week's Grass10 newsletter:https://bit.ly/Grass10-4thFebruary 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

Today,  I'll be chatting with Gearóid Ó Treasaigh. Gearóid is the Irish Language Instructor at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick. He is in the middle of his second year of his ICUF scholarship. ICUF, being the Ireland Canada University Foundation. This is the Irish language portion of our episode. You will find the English language episode on the same feed as it was released at the same time. Tá súil agam go mbainfidh sibh sult as an gcomhrá a bhí agam le Gearóid. Is sár-duine é agus táim chomh buíoch gur labhair sé liom ar an bpodchraoladh inniu. Cloisfidh sibh faoin bpróiséas ICUF agus conas atá ag éirí le Gearóid in Fredericton le dhá bhliain anuas

Raymond Ryan of Dairygold's Milk Quality Advisory team joins Stuart Childs on this week's Dairy Edge with tips on preparing for commencing supply and ensuring milk quality standards are maintained. Raymond recommends washing the bulk tank and the plant in advance of putting milk in the tank as it has been idle for a number of weeks now. He also suggests checking the level of uptake of chemical to ensure the tank and any autowashers are using the right quantity of detergent and descaler. High SCC in February is not acceptable and Raymond recommends people try to respond as early as possible in order to deal with the source of the problem. This may require consultation with your vet as to the best course of action but getting on top of SCC at the start of lactation is important to have good control for the full lactation. Finally, Raymond speaks a lot about the process, whatever the process is, whether it is washing the milking machine, dealing with a mastitis case, dealing with a freshly calved cow, it is important that people put a system in place and stick to it so that it can be repeated consistently.  This, in his experience, is what delivers results from a milk quality perspective but can also contribute to the smoother running of the farm during busy periods such as during calving. 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

On this week's Grass10 grazing management update, Joseph Dunphy discusses completing your opening AFC on PastureBase Ireland and previews the upcoming Spring Pasture Morning events throughout the country. Link to this week's Grass10 newsletter: https://bit.ly/Grass10-28thJanuary  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 ruminant nutritionist, Dr Aisling Claffey, joins James Dunne on this week's Dairy Edge podcast to discuss how to best meet the nutritional needs of the calved dairy cow throughout early lactation.  Aisling outlines the energy requirements required to minimise body condition loss and optimise animal performance over the spring period and how these can be met with a simple diet of grazed grass, high quality silage and concentrates.  The importance of achieving at least one grazing per day was discussed whilst also giving an understanding as to what's needed at farm level when this isn't achievable in difficult periods. 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

On this week's Grass10 grazing management update, Joseph Dunphy discusses all things Nutrient Management Week which is across all Grass10 social media accounts this week and he encourages farmers to get out and complete an opening AFC on PastureBase Ireland. Link to this week's Grass10 newsletter:https://bit.ly/Grass10-21stJanuary 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

Cathal Somers, Water Quality Specialist with Teagasc, joins Stuart Childs on this week's Dairy Edge to discuss spreading organic fertilisers. Cathal gives a summary of the factors that need to be considered before spreading slurry or manure even though the closed period has ended. Cathal sympathises with the challenges farmers face trying to make this decision as it can be a challenge.  In an ideal world, he suggests that farmers should try to hold off spreading slurry until mid-February as day length increases, growth increases to use the nutrient applied, plus ground conditions might be better – although he does acknowledge that we can't say if that will be the case in any given year.  If you are going to spread, you need to watch the rate, so 1500-2000 gals/acre, and target it to the right fields, which would, in most cases would be silage fields where the greatest demand for P and K will be and then to adhere to the 10m buffer zones for the two weeks after the closed period has ended.  Cathal also says that the 1.5m distance for fencing can allow for a vegetative buffer to grow inside the wire that can act as a second line of defence in the event of heavy rainfall washing nutrients towards a dyke or a drain, so the combination of this with the correct buffer can help prevent nutrients getting into waterways. He also suggests that if farmers are finding themselves under pressure to spread currently, they think about where the excess of slurry is coming from. Is there water making its way into tanks that shouldn't? If yes, can it be stopped or is additional capacity needed and should consideration be given to this?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