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The Tillage Edge is Teagasc's new tillage podcast, presented by Michael Hennessy. Bringing you weekly episodes covering agronomy needs of crops throughout the season with input from Teagasc researchers and views from across the industry. Subscribe and listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. The Tillage Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia (https://www.LastCastMedia.com) .
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Minister of State, Martin Heydon, TD joins this week’s Tillage Edge podcast to talk about the recently published Food Vision 2030 Tillage Report which sets out 28 recommendations to develop the tillage sector. Minister Heydon says the tillage sector is integral to the fabric of Irish agriculture and is a necessary part for all other areas to work w…
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Grass weeds can be a serious risk to tillage farmers, and unlike the weather or international markets, grass weed prevention and eradication is something that is in the farmer’s control. Teagasc advisor, John Mahon, and Vijaya Bhaskar, Teagasc weed researcher, are on this week's Tillage Edge podcast to discuss grass weeds and how important it is to…
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Spring crops will develop quickly in the shorter season and timing of the necessary inputs will be difficult. Shay Phelan and Ciaran Collins, Teagasc Tillage Specialists, join this week’s Tillage Edge to talk about sequencing the critical inputs to crops. Shay says growers should be cautious about nitrogen rates to ensure malting barley quality is …
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BYDV levels are high and it can have a significant negative yield impact in both winter and spring crops. Dr Louise McNamara joins The Tillage Edge this week to chat about the current BYDV levels in winter crops and how to minimise BYDV in spring crops. Louise says it is too late to control aphids in winter crops but almost all spring crops are at …
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Contractors play a vital role in the tillage industry and this week on The Tillage Edge podcast, Michael Hennessy chats to two contractors, Patrick Nolan, who is working close to Athy, Co Kildare and Padraig Noonan, close to Conna in Cork. Both men outline the pressures to completing work during the past 10 days with Padraig saying they have comple…
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Life Scientific, is an Irish company researching, developing and manufacturing off-patent plant protection products for the global market. For this week’s Tillage Edge, Michael Hennessy was joined by Ruth Stanley, the Ireland and UK country manager, to tell us a bit more about the company, and by Scott Lovell, from Croplink, who distribute some of …
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Teagasc Tillage Specialists, Ciaran Collins and Shay Phelan, joined Michael Hennessy on the latest Tillage Edge podcast to talk about winter crop management over the next couple of weeks. First, Ciaran touched on the complexity of applying multiple products to crops which have not received any treatment yet. He says that winter barley which is due …
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The continuing poor weather is forcing many farmers to change their cropping decisions and on this week’s Tillage Edge, Ciaran Collins and Shay Phelan, both Tillage Specialists in Teagasc, discuss the benefits and risks of making cropping changes. Shay explains that the choice between planting seed which cannot be returned and leaving it in the she…
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Jim McCarthy joins the Tillage Edge again this week with the latest on managing the 16,000 hectare farm in Romania and to share some insights on the global grain trade. Jim discusses the agronomy of growing crops in Romania and how the farm is growing most of their crops using less nitrogen but with an increased use of digital farming methods. Jim …
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Buffer zones are important to protect waterbodies and Hugh Rooney, a Teagasc ASSAP advisor, joins this week’s Tillage Edge to talk about how buffer zones are necessary and what benefits these areas can bring. Hugh explains that protecting waterbodies from nitrates, phosphates, sediment, pesticides and organic matter are all crucial to help the heal…
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Sean Kelly, who is a Member of the European Parliament for Ireland South, joined the Tillage Edge this week to chat about how EU policy is put in place and the influence farmers can have when these policies are being devised. Firstly, Sean welcomed the move by the EU to reduce red tape and is keen to follow this through to implementation. He said f…
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A recent Signpost farm event on the Kepak farm in Dunboyne, Co Meath focused on the use of slurry on their tillage farm. Sam Myles, the farm manager, Veronica Nyhan, a soil nutrition specialist, and John Mahon, Signpost Farm advisor, all joined Michael Hennessy on the Tillage Edge to discuss utilising slurry on a tillage farm. Sam Myles explains th…
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The Teagasc Crops Team have launched the Crop Report Platform which is a comprehensive information hub for the agronomy of crops in Ireland. Shay Phelan and Ciaran Collins, both Tillage Specialists in Teagasc joined this week’s Tillage Edge podcast to chat through the main features of the platform. “Users can get access to information quickly throu…
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Despite the cold weather, oilseed rape is actively growing. Management decisions are needed on most crops in the coming days and weeks and on this week’s Tillage Edge podcast, John Spink, the Head of Crops, Environment and Land Use (CELUP) in Teagasc, discusses the tools and management which should be used by all farmers growing oilseed rape to ens…
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Many farmers are contemplating if their winter crops have enough plants to give a viable return and at the same time, are anxious to start the management of good crops on the farm. On this week’s Tillage Edge podcast, Shay Phelan and Ciaran Collins, who are both Tillage Specialists in Teagasc, chat through the factors that should be considered befo…
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The National Tillage Conference which took place in late January this year, covered a range of topics around research and the future direction of tillage. On this episode of the Tillage Edge, you’ll hear from John Spink, Head of Crops Environment and Land Use in Teagasc, who spoke at the conference on how to calculate carbon use or Green House Gass…
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Teagasc are running a series of Winter Crop walks across the country from February 13-16th and on this week’s Tillage Edge podcast, Shay Phelan, a Tillage Specialist in Teagasc, chats about what to expect at the walks. As many crops are patchy or have poor establishment, Shay says farmers need to be more proactive in their own crops rather than lea…
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The fertiliser supply chain and costs have been very volatile over the past couple of years and on the latest Tillage Edge podcast, Liam Dunphy, the Managing Director of Gouldings, and Peter Scott, Technical Director of The Fertiliser Division in Origin Enterprises Ireland/UK, join Michael Hennessy to talk about the fertiliser market and also Polys…
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Fertiliser is one of the largest variable costs every year on tillage farms and on the latest Tillage Edge podcast, Dr Veronica Nyhan, a tillage advisor in Teagasc, chats through the benefits of planning the correct nutrients for each crop in 2024. Veronica explains that the basis of a nutrient management plan are soil samples which are up to date.…
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The Teagasc National Tillage Conference takes place on January 31st in the Lyrath Hotel, Kilkenny and on this week’s Tillage Edge podcast, Dr Ewen Mullins, Head of Crops Research, Oak Park, Carlow, joins us to talk about the exciting line up and the change of format for the conference this year. Ewen explains the change to the conference format is …
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This week's episode is a repost of an episode from January 2023 with Professor Mike McLaughlin, originally from county Antrim, who is a Research Professor with the University of Adelaide, Australia and is an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow with Teagasc. Soils are the most important resource the human race has. Without a productive soil there wouldn’…
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Having an optimistic view is one of the cornerstones for all farmers, and although undoubtedly there will be challenges in 2024, there are plenty of areas that tillage farmers can still be positive about. Farmers are playing catch-up in terms of planted area on most farms which may present some difficulties in the early part of the season, but if t…
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Grass weeds are a problem on almost all farms in Ireland and the scale of the increase and the measures necessary to control them is less well known. Black grass is in every county in the country and while it can be relatively easy to keep it out, it takes vigilance. To get a better insight into the topic, this week’s Tillage Edge podcast features …
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As the end of the year approaches, most tillage farmers will want to forget 2023. Unfortunately it will be remembered as a year of weather extremes and the resulting difficulties. But it is beneficial to look back on how we dealt with the year and if we would have made any decisions differently. To look back on the tillage year that was, Teagasc Ti…
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The grain markets over the past few months have not hit the headlines but are still happily functioning in the background. On the latest Tillage Edge podcast, Phelim Dolan, a grain trader in Comex-McKinnon, chats to Michael Hennessy about the current markets and what to expect in the coming months. Phelim highlights how the world had a good harvest…
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Sprayer frost damage becomes apparent after the thaw and often when the machine is needed next and on this week’s Tillage Edge podcast, Dermot Forristal, a researcher in Teagasc, joins Michael Hennessy to talk about protecting sprayers and tractors from frost over the winter. Dermot highlights the importance of getting the dilution of the antifreez…
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In the second of a two part series on drainage, Michael Hennessy continues his discussion with Pat Tuohy, a researcher in Teagasc dealing with soil hydrology and drainage, to talk about field drainage issues on tillage farms. Pat discusses how it is important to identify the sub-surface layer to a depth of 2.5m. This layer will dictate how the over…
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Very few of the emerged winter cereal crops have received a herbicide this autumn. Pre-emergence herbicides are generally the corner of weed control in winter cereals but this year alternative options will be needed. Ciaran Collins and Shay Phelan, both tillage specialists in Teagasc, join the Tillage Edge podcast to discuss the options for weed co…
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The wet autumn has shown up areas in all farms which are wet and may need some drainage attention in the coming months or years. This is the first of two episodes where Michael Hennessy talks to Pat Tuohy, a researcher in Teagasc dealing with soil hydrology and drainage, about how to deal with field drainage issues on tillage farms. Pat advocates r…
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Farmers in the UK are struggling with wet conditions and Andrew Mahon, an Irish farm manager in the heart of England, is on the latest Tillage Edge podcast to chat about the farm he manages and the wider experience of farmers across the UK. Andy says they missed the very heavy rains and he managed to plant almost all the crops on time. However, abo…
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Brendan Burke, the farm manager in Teagasc Oak Park, Carlow, joined the Tillage Edge this week to talk about the progress on the research farm over the past few months. Similar to other farms in the area, Brendan said there is about 80% of the normal plantings completed to date. Brendan talked about the extra difficulties of planting around trial p…
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Planting progress of winter cereals has been slow in most places and at a virtual stop in others and on the latest Tillage Edge podcast, Ciaran Collins and Shay Phelan, both tillage specialists in Teagasc, chat through the current progress and what actions farmers can take as the year closes in. Ciaran said the recent floods in Cork have been diffi…
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Brian Caldbeck, a Laois man living in Kentucky, talks to Michael Hennessy on this week’s Tillage Edge about his experiences in the US over the past 20 years. Brian is very much involved in agriculture, running a business called Rubisco Seeds. The company supplies oilseed rape seed for the food grade market, with much of the seed coming from Europe.…
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In the third of a three part series from a recent Signpost farm walk on Don Somers’ farm in Wexford, Michael Hennessy chats to Don Somers and Dermot Forristal, a machinery researcher in Teagasc, about how he utilises the information from the combine yield monitor to inform agronomic decisions each year. Don outlines how he aligns the yield maps to …
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The practice of fattening store lambs on cover crops is becoming more popular and Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep Production in Teagasc, joins the Tillage Edge podcast this week to discuss how to get the most from the cover crops whilst maximising animal performance. Michael explains that lambs will take a little time to get used to the taste of t…
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In the second of a three part series from a Signpost farm walk on Don Somers’ farm in Wexford, Michael Hennessy chats to Martin Bourke, a Teagasc Advisor, about getting the best from organic manures and how Don Somers has utilised this resource to build soil fertility on his farm. Ciaran Hickey, a Teagasc tillage advisor, also presenting at the eve…
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In the first of a three part series on the Tillage Edge podcast, at a recent Signpost farm walk on Don Somers’ farm in Wexford, Michael Hennessy chats to Dr David Wall, a researcher in Teagasc, about the soils on Don’s farm and the best way to manage these soils for fertility, carbon storage and high yield. At the same event Pat Power, a tillage ad…
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Matt Dempsey, former editor of the Irish Farmers Journal, and Chair of the DAFM Food Vision Tillage group, chats to Michael Hennessy on the latest Tillage Edge podcast about the interim recommendations from the Food Vision Tillage Group. Matt says there is an openness by the government to look at capital projects which could support the industry lo…
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Dr. Catherine Keena, a Countryside Management Specialist in Teagasc, joins Michael Hennessy on the latest Tillage Edge podcast to talk about the management of hedgerows on tillage farms. Catherine explains that allowing hedges to grow wider and taller is very important to encourage biodiversity and increase carbon capture. She added that this can b…
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Shay Phelan and John Mahon from Teagasc are on this week’s Tillage Edge podcast to chat through what to expect from the Teagasc Crops Forum next Friday in Naas. Shay explained the forum will hear from Andrew Owen-Griffiths, who is head of DG Sante, which is responsible for the EU Commission's policies on health and food safety. Andrew will talk abo…
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Planning for 2024 harvest has begun on many farms and farmers should bear in mind the crop diversification rule, or three crop rule, is in force for 2024. Shay Phelan and Ciaran Collins, Tillage Specialists in Teagasc, are on this week’s Tillage Edge podcast to explain more. Ciaran says that the three crop rule is similar to other years and growers…
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New rules brought in this year under GAEC 6 will exclude tillage farmers who do not have grassland from grazing cover crops, according to Shay Phelan, a tillage specialist in Teagasc. On this week’s Tillage Edge podcast, Shay outlines the DAFM rules which must be complied with to graze cover crops and what the DAFM inspectors will be looking for on…
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Brendan Burke, the farm manager in Teagasc Oak Park, joins the Tillage Edge this week to chat about the harvest progress on the farm. Despite the weather, Brendan says his team have made good progress and pretty much all of the ripe crops are harvested. However, Brendan says saving the straw was more difficult and much of it is still on the ground.…
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Ciaran Collins, a Tillage Specialist in Teagasc, joined the Tillage Edge podcast this week to chat about the harvest and stubble cultivation rules which farmers should be aware of. Ciaran said the harvest is stop/start with good progress being made in winter barley, winter oilseed rape and winter oats. He said yields are variable across all crops a…
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Tim Bergin, an Irish man farming in Poland, joined the Tillage Edge this week to chat about the year so far and his harvest progress. Tim said that a cold spell early in the year followed by a prolonged drought has affected cereal growth and he is expecting lower yields from these crops. Tim also grows potatoes, which he was also very worried about…
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Highlights from the Teagasc Crops Open Day Part 4 – BYDV advice, ramularia control & beta glutens in barley
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This is the final Tillage Edge podcast highlighting the best of the Teagasc Crops Open Day held in Oak Park, Carlow. On this episode, Louise McNamara and Stephen Byrne, researchers in Oak Park, discuss the extensive research which will underpin BYDV advice in the future. Deirdre Doyle, a technologist in Teagasc, outlines the recommendations around …
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Highlights from the Teagasc Crops Open Day Part 3 – Establishment Systems, Cover Crops & the Environment
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This is the third of four shows highlighting content from the Teagasc Crops Open Day in Oak Park Carlow and this week’s Tillage Edge focuses on the different establishment systems, cover crops and the environment. First, Jack Jameson, a PhD student in Teagasc, talks about different establishment systems and farmer perceptions about these systems. W…
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This is the second of four shows from the Teagasc Crops Open Day in Oak Park Carlow and this episode of the Tillage Edge podcast is focusing on protein crops. You’ll hear from Ciaran Collins, a tillage specialist in Teagasc, to set the scene about agronomy and where the protein industry can be developed. Sheila Alves, a Teagasc researcher in bean a…
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This is the first of four shows highlighting some of the research from the Crops Research Open Day in Oak Park. Ewen Mullins, the Head of Crops Research in Oak Park, explains that the aim of the open day is to equip farmers with new knowledge and give them an insight into the new research areas that Teagasc Crops Research are working on. Dermot For…
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Garett Browne, along with his brother Mark, farms just outside Enniscorthy, Co Wexford and on the latest Tillage Edge podcast, Garett discusses the highs and lows of 2023 so far as well as reflecting on his establishment system successes and challenges. Garett is running a min-till and strip till establishment system across a range of crops and is …
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