Irish Farmers Journal podcasts

A key event in the calendar for many people living in rural Ireland, is the Mr Personality Festival organised by Kilkenny Macra. 

This week, we have a special Young Stock Podcast as Sarah McIntosh and Martin Merrick take us behind the scenes as they judge this year’s competition. 

Taking place in Clonmel, from the 5 to 7 April, a weekend full of events saw 25 contestants from Macra clubs across the country battle it out in order to be named Mr Personality 2024. 

From making the judges ham and cheese sandwiches, to milking a cow on stage, this year’s contestants didn’t make it an easy task to pick a winner with a high calibre of talent’s displayed during the on-stage interviews.

Last year’s winner Andrew Dunne speaks to us about what he has been up to since winning the title in 2023, and the impact it has had on his life.

We also managed to catch up with a few of the contestants during the weekend to find out why they wanted to enter the competition and how they found the experience. The event wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of the organising committee, we spoke to Christine O’Neill chairperson on the work that goes on behind the scenes.Taking home the Mr Personality 2024 title was Mark Riordan from Kenmare, Co Kerry. Speaking to us the day after he won, Mark emphasises the importance of staying together during the tough challenges young farmers are currently facing. 

“We talk about silage; we talk about breeding and we talk about all the challenges with farming but there is a lot happening on farm and there is a lot happening in farmers heads that we don’t talk about enough. Its not easy out there at the moment and if you look at the weather for the next week especially, it’s probably disheartening but I think as a community, as Macra we have to be there for each other, were all in the same boat and this will pass,” says Mark.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we talked to Adam Woods on the impact the weather has had on the beef trade, Darren Carty on the details of the new sheep scheme and Aidan Brennan on the upcoming breeding season who also talks to Laurence Shalloo on balancing clover

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s podcast we highlight the impact the weather has had on cattle prices, milk supply and the tillage sector. As well as much more news stories from this week’s paper.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s show we look at another bumper tillage paper that includes the 2024 Crop Protection Magazine. We have an update from agronomists across the country, talk to Steven Kildea about potato blight, Dermot Forristal of Teagasc on getting through work when the weather picks up.

We also have an update from the National Fodder and Food Security Committee meeting, held on Tuesday, details on calls for tillage funding and as always 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.

On this week’s Young Stock Podcast we talk to Conor Condron from Co Offaly. Conor recently started working for commodity consulting company, Black Silo. He wants to see Irish farmers use tools to reduce the risk involved in selling commodities.

He was in Brazil at the beginning of the year for the soybean harvest and is travelling to Romania this week. Hear what Conor has to say from studying ag science to formulating rations and working with farmers with J. Grennan and Sons to travelling the world.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we chat to Adam Woods on buying stock bulls, Darren Carty on scour in lambs and Aidan Brennan on all things weather and grazing as the rain pours down. We also talk to Edward Healy from Grassland AGRO on managing fertilizer for silage.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the podcast Declan O’Brien talks about potential fodder supports that are on the table as well as advice around getting cows out grazing. Anne O’Donoghue and Noel Bardon discuss Kerry top-ups, how BISS applications are progressing and ICSA 2023 accounts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s tillage podcast we joined contractor John Hughes from Co Kilkenny on the tractor when he was out planting beans on Tuesday, 2 April. He sows beans from Wexford to Westmeath and has a busy time ahead when the weather picks up.

We have the latest tillage news, chat with renewables editor Stephen Robb about the upcoming Irish Farmers Journal Renewables Roadshow.

As always, we have the grain market and weather report.

The Tillage Podcast is supported by Bayer Crop Science.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s Young Stock Podcast, Peter Thomas Keaveney speaks with Conor Trimble at the Claas UK headquarters in the south east of England. The County Down man works for Claas UK, the distributor of all Claas products such as tractors, combines, forage harvesters and grassland equipment for the Irish and UK markets. We are currently recording this podcast at Claas UK headquarters which is based at Saxham, in south east of England.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to get the latest news on farmers coping with a surge in rainfall, what Fine Gael’s new leader has to say on farming matters and 2024 calf export trends.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s tillage podcast is packed with news, technical information and interviews. We have the latest on the Food Vision Tillage Report, an interview with the manager of the Kepak Farm in Co Meath, an update on potato blight, a suggested new tillage scheme and much more.

As always we have the grain market and weather report.

The Tillage Podcast is supported by Bayer Crop Science.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Helen Sharp is joined by Irish Equine Veterinary Association committee members Dr Sue Salter of SES Equine Veterinary Services and Dr Sarah Ross of the Irish Equine Centre to answer the most popular breeding questions sent in by our readers.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet the new entrant Dairy farmer who is milking 200 cows on 90% leased land. Declan Collins spoke with Robert Tobin, better known as ‘Tobin Farms’ on Instagram on how he got into dairy farming, the difficult spring so far and what it takes to be a good employer

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Adam Woods chats about what's behind the booming cattle trade, Darren Carty on the trade for leasing and selling entitlements and Aidan Brennan on managing grazing as the rain pours down.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Rachel Donovan chats to news correspondents Noel Bardon and Anne O’Donoghue about who will be exempt from farm inspections, FBD refunds to farmer customers following an overcharge, the latest in Irish politics as well as an update from the NDC’s interim boss Mark Keller.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s show we talk fieldwork, hear about a request for €60m in funding for tillage, forage crop options and welcome the From the Tramline farmers for 2024. We caught up with Teagasc tillage adviser Conor O’Callaghan at a recent Teagasc Signpost walk on Kepak’s farm in Co Meath. As always, we bring you the latest news, grain market and weather reports.The Irish Farmers Journal Tillage Podcast is supported by Bayer Crop Science.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet the young man who took ABP’s stand at the Tullamore Show. Anne O’Donoghue talks to James Stokes of Freeway Poultry about why he started his flock, being a teenage entrepreneur and expanding his business.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s show we talk SCEP, trade for entitlements ahead of BISS deadline and we catch up with New Zealand dairy farmer, Olin Greenan for an update on what’s happening there.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s tillage podcast we have all the latest news including details on the scrapping of the three-crop rule for this season, possible changes coming from the EU and an update from the fields. We chat to Steven Kildea of Teagasc on septoria control in the season ahead and we visited Tirlán’s oat mill in Portlaoise a few weeks ago where we had a chat with plant manager Diarmuid Doran.As always, we have the grain market and weather reports.The Irish Farmers journal Tillage Podcast is supported by Bayer Crop Science.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s show we have the results of the Irish Farmers Journal land survey with tillage farmers. We chat to Cork tillage farmer Paul Moore on endangered species, surveys and nitrates rules. As always, we have all the latest tillage news, grain trends and the weather report.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s show, Gary Abbott caught up with Ciaran Hennessy of Hennessy Auctioneers to find out about his time studying Law and Business at UCD, becoming a chartered accountant with KPMG, travelling parts of the world with Ornua and working as group financial controller with ABP’s Irish Country Meats at just 28 years of age, all before returning home to the family business three years ago.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s show has details of a potential 20,000ha drop in the tillage area, an update on the three-crop rule derogation, crop costs and returns.We chat to Diageo’s sustainability manager David Hagan on the Guinness regenerative agriculture project and talk to Mariea O’Toole on Tirlán’s gluten-free oats area and growers. As always, we have the grain market and weather reports.You can still take part in our podcast survey by clicking this link: https://form.jotform.com/240374041518046

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s Tillage Podcast we report from the Tirlán grain awards. We have all the details on new research from Teagasc and Tirlán on the carbon footprint of Irish grain. We talk to Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Martin Heydon. Syngenta’s Andy Cunningham joins us to tell us about Vixeran, a new bio-fertiliser to improve nitrogen use efficiency.To fill out the Tillage Podcast survey click on this link: https://form.jotform.com/240374041518046

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this weeks podcast Niall Canning from Rosses Point in Co Sligo joins Shanon Kinahan to talk all things farming, football and finding life long a passion in showing cattle.Niall is a seasoned show man, an ex-county footballer with a new found love for running and a school teacher among many other things. Niall is a wealth of knowledge and in this podcast he talks about the trials and tribulations that go along with farming, the many rewarding days on the show circuit, gives plenty of advice to young farmers and even gets a few facts on the record in our quick fire round.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s show we have the latest update on rules surrounding bare patches and crops which didn’t establish from the Department of Agriculture. We have the latest on the three-crop rule, preview the tillage pages and have the latest tillage news.
Last week the Irish Farmers Journal attended the BASF technical conference and on this week’s show we chat to BASF’s Claire Tucker on oilseed rape agronomy and Iain Forde on beans agronomy as well as Tom McCabe on disease control in spring barley.
We have a survey running at present to get your feedback on The Tillage Podcast. You can fill out the survey at this link: https://form.jotform.com/240374041518046

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s tillage podcast we talk to the head of agronomy at Dyson Farming Ben Abell. Ben spoke at the Drummonds conference a few weeks ago.

We want to hear your opinions and get some feedback on the tillage podcast. Fill out the survey at this link: https://form.jotform.com/240374041518046 to be in with a chance to win a €100 one4all voucher.

Back to this week's show and we detail how Irish farmers are losing money due to bad weather and regulations and how member states are seeking derogations from crop diversification requirements, how Irish wheat could replace maize in whiskey production and have a report from the Wexford IFA grain awards.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s tillage podcast comes from the Teagasc National Tillage Conference held on Wednesday. We have the results of the Teagasc winter planting survey, advice on how to manage poor crops and on planting decisions this season from Shay Phelan and Dermot Forristal.We chat to Teagasc’s John Spink on the carbon footprint of Irish grain. We have details of the top up to the tillage payment and, as always, we have the grain market and weather reports.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's show we have an update on the three-crop rule for 2024 which farmers must comply with. Drummonds held its winter conference this week and we talk to Drummonds agronomist Brian Reilly and Grassland Agro’s John O’Loughlin from the conference. Brian updates us on planting in the north east and John has an update on the fertiliser database.
As always, we look at the tillage pages which focus on glyphosate rates, we look at grain markets and have the weather report.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s Youngstock Podcast, Stephen Robb talks to John Hegarty, Area Manager with Yara International about his career so far which has taken him from Inishowen, to family farming in France, to working on the 37,000ac Dyson Farming business in the UK and back to Inishowen.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s show we report from the Dairygold Tillage Conference. We chat to Bank of Ireland’s head of agriculture Eoin Lowry on tillage farmer’s finances and changes in markets over time. We have a chat with Cork farmer Rob Coleman about regenerative agriculture and Dairygold’s Liam O’Flaherty on beans price and Irish animal feed. We have an update on the seed shortage and take a look at the Department’s recommended lists for wheat, oats and beans. As always, we have the grain market and weather reports.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s podcast we discuss a recent survey of bird populations in south Cork. We look at the spring barley recommended list published this week. Michael Hennessy from Teagasc joins us to talk about the spring seed shortage, winter planting and the Teagasc National Tillage Conference.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s podcast we chat to Irish Farmers Journal editor Jack Kennedy on tillage policy and co-operation between tillage and livestock farmers. We talk to head of agricultural meteorology at Met Éireann, Klara Finkele about climate and forecasting and we look back at the high and low grain prices of 2023 and have the news from this week’s paper.
The tillage podcast will take a break for the next two weeks over Christmas and the New Year, but look back through some of the episodes you may have missed throughout the year.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“New genomic techniques” is a complicated term. On this week’s podcast we talk to Ewen Mullins of Teagasc. Ewen gives us a run down on gene editing, genetic modification and new genomic techniques. He explains how these techniques work, where they’re used and European rules surrounding these practices.
This podcast will provide you with all the basics you need to know on the new technologies which you could be using on your farm in the next few years.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s Young Stock Podcast, machinery correspondent Gary Abbott talks to Diarmuid Lonergan, product demonstrator with the Kverneland Group Ireland, the Irish importer and distributor of the well-known brands which include Kverneland, McConnel, Siloking. Diarmuid is responsible for product demonstrations throughout the country within the group and its dealer network. He speaks about his current role, his studies and his itch to travel the world and passion for agriculture and machinery. Diarmuid discusses his time spent working across Europe as well as further afield in America, Canada, New Zealand and Australia before returning home to take up the role of product demonstrator with the Kverneland Group Ireland where he has worked now for almost five years. We couldn’t let Diarmuid off without answering our quick-fire round questions.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s show we chat to world leading agricultural economist Dr Scott Irwin. Scott is the chair of agricultural marketing at the University of Illinois. He grew up on a farm in Iowa and still manages the grain marketing end of the business.He recently wrote a book, Back to the Futures: Crashing dirt bikes, chasing cows and unravelling the mystery of commodity Futures Markets. The book helps to explain grain marketing and futures markets through stories from Scott’s life and childhood.In the podcast he covers everything from sprint car racing to onion markets and speculators to grain elevators and crop insurance. Scott has some top tips for Irish farmers on grain trading and he even has some exclusive news for us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our sheep and schemes editor Darren Carty will talk about the ACRES bottleneck which poses a risk to both places and payments for farmers. Beef and suckler editor Adam Woods will be on talking about the farmer fury over changes to ICBF evaluations and news correspondent Noel Bardon will bring us up to date on the latest proposals around calf transport rules.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have an update on fieldwork and take a look at the news from the three-crop rule to the Teagasc Outlook report. We also take a look at the decline in tillage area over the past 15 years which is on the tillage pages of this week’s paper. As always, there is a quick grain market report and weather forecast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this weeks podcast, Shanon Kinahan caught up with Jake Finnegan, a young farmer, show man and entrepreneur who is one of the familiar faces behind the company, Elite Pedigree Genetics (EPG).

Jake talks all things business and farming and gives us an insight into the industry as well as some interesting opinions on topical conversations and talks about the different roles that helped him to get to where he is today.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There is a lot of news to cover on this week’s podcast and a lot of it is good news. Drier weather has seen fieldwork ramp up in some places. We run through the Teagasc harvest report, have the fertiliser sales figures for 2023, talk about the renewal of glyphosate and a vote against pesticide reductions in the EU. There’s also a possibility of an increased tillage payment and an update on the Food Vision Tillage report. As always, we have the grain market and weather reports.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's tillage podcast we talk about the reduction in winter cereal area, the announcement of payments for unharvested crops and straw shortages.We report from the Teagasc grass weeds conference where we chatted to Kilkenny Farmer Eoin Lyons about how he brought a brome problem under control in a direct drill system, hear from Sarah Cook of ADAS on reducing blackgrass populations and to Tom Chillcott of Bayer on herbicide resistance and active ingredients in the market.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our news team discusses the 6-month delay which is on the cards for the cut to the derogation, what went on behind closed doors in the Barne Estate sale in Co Tipperary, the latest BSE case identified during the week and it’s affects, weather, fodder shortages and lastly the IFA presidential election.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s show we have details of a likely seed shortage for spring cereals on this week’s show and talk to Irish Seed Trade Association’s president Tim O’Donovan. Vijaya Bhaskar joins us with an update on grass weed populations and herbicide resistance. We have all the latest from this week’s paper from the potato harvest to tillage aid and the grain market and weather reports.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s podcast a world-famous agricultural economist joins us. Dan Basse of AgResource Company in Chicago spoke to the Irish Farmers Journal at the Barnett Hall Conference. We also caught up with Rachel Connor of Barnett Hall to talk about carbon footprints of grain and animal feed.We talk fieldwork, hear about compensation for unharvested crops, have results from a survey on pesticides, look back on the season of From the Tramlines and as always have the grain market and weather reports.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our news team discusses the GPS tracker clamp down on bogus slurry exports. Nitrates, the suckler carbon efficiency programme, dairy’s economic value, potatoes, horticulture growers, cross compliance inspections and our Women and Agriculture conference are all also on the agenda. Listen in for the latest.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s show we talk to farmers in Co Cork whose crops were not harvested this year as rainfall made it impossible to complete the massive spring cereal harvest, as winter cereal area declined.We also share all the latest tillage news. Report from the Irish Drinks Open Forum and have grain trend and weather reports.Ep 895: The Tillage Podcast -

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Barry Murphy and Rachel Donovan interview The 2 Johnnies on being a rural voice in RTÉ, their new TV show ‘Late Night Lock In’, farming, calving cows and lots more. “I’m staring right into this cow’s arse and I hadn’t a clue what’s going on,” one says. A listen not to be missed.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.