The Tillage Edge

Dr. Louise McNamara, a researcher with Teagasc, is on this week’s Tillage Edge to talk about the threat posed by aphids and, consequently, BYDV this season.    Louise explains that the thresholds, or triggers for action, are similar to previous years, although ongoing research is expected to refine these in the future.   She highlights that crops emerging after mid-April are at greatest risk, whil...

Last month Teagasc published sector roadmaps, including the Tillage Roadmap 2030, which sets production and sustainability targets and outlines changes needed to advance the sector.    Achieving these ambitions will be challenging but vital.  In this episode, John Spink, Head of the Crops, Environment and Land Use Programme at Teagasc, and Dr Ewen Mullins, Head of Crop Research, join us to explain...

Nitrogen is arguably the most important input in agriculture, and applying the right amount in the right place is essential to maximising return on investment.     Dr Richie Hackett, a researcher with Teagasc, joins the podcast to discuss how farmers can get the best from their nitrogen inputs.   Richie explains that liquid nitrogen can be just as effective as solid nitrogen sources. Preliminary t...

As spring moves into peak planting season, the ideal window for establishing several crops is closing quickly.    Conor Kavanagh, a tillage advisor from Tipperary, and Eoin Lyons, a tillage advisor from Laois, join the podcast to discuss spring planting progress in their respective areas and outline priorities for the coming week.   Eoin notes that good progress has been made across all crops, alt...

Changes in the yellow rust population last year means that all winter wheat crops are at risk of infection in 2026.     Dr. Stephen Kildea, a researcher with Teagasc, and Conor O’Callaghan, a Teagasc tillage advisor, join the Tillage Edge podcast to discuss the threat that yellow rust poses to wheat crops this season.   Conor says that where yellow rust is allowed to establish, it becomes difficul...

With the recent improvement in weather and a favourable forecast ahead, planting of spring cereals has now begun.    Ciaran Collins and Shay Phelan, Tillage Specialists with Teagasc, join the podcast to discuss priorities for planting over the coming week and whether increased input costs are likely to influence plans this spring.   Shay says that typical costs for spring cropping have risen by ap...

Rising tensions in the Middle East have once again caused volatility in fertiliser markets, pushing prices higher and creating uncertainty. With these costs increasing, there is renewed focus on ensuring fertiliser applications are closely matched to crop and soil requirements.   On this week’s Tillage Edge podcast, Dr Veronica Nyhan, Soils and Plant Nutrition Specialist with Teagasc, discusses cu...

With the arrival of spring weather, Teagasc tillage specialists Ciaran Collins and Shay Phelan join the podcast to discuss the priority agronomy tasks for the coming weeks. Soils remain quite wet on many farms, and both Ciaran and Shay caution against rushing into fieldwork — whether that’s spreading fertiliser or planting spring crops. A little patience now, they advise, could lead to better resu...

Sheila Alves, a researcher in Teagasc, Oak Park and Cork-based Teagasc tillage advisor, Michael McCarthy, join this week’s Tillage Edge to discuss what growers need to know about spring beans for the 2026 season.   “With margins remaining competitive compared to other spring crops, beans are expected to be widely grown again this year,” Michael McCarthy explains.    The conversation focuses on key...

Working with the EU funded VALPRO Path project team, Michael Hennessy visits agricultural grain drying and storage specialists McArthur BDC in the UK.   Michael speaks with John McArthur about the company’s work installing large-scale grain storage and drying systems, alongside their plans to process home-grown beans for inclusion in poultry rations. The discussion explores how small-scale trials,...

Don Somers, the Wexford tillage farmer who won the 2025 Teagasc–FBD Environmental Sustainability Award, and Siobhán Kavanagh from Teagasc’s Signpost Farm programme, join Michael Hennessy on this week’s Tillage Edge.   Don explains why winning the award was important to him and how it recognises tillage farmers’ sustainability work.   Siobhán outlines the awards categories, judging criteria, suppor...

For the second in a series featuring talks from this year’s Teagasc National Tillage Conference, this week on the Tillage Edge we focus on research and the key issues that will shape tillage farming in the years ahead.   This episode highlights new research from Teagasc Oak Park with Jack Perry who provides an update on BYDV transmission in tolerant barley varieties; Sinéad Dermody discusses the s...

We begin a series of talks from this year’s Teagasc National Tillage Conference, focusing on the research and issues that will shape tillage farming in the years ahead.   This episode of the Tillage Edge examines Irish competitiveness, both at home and internationally.    Teagasc economist, Dr Trevor Donnellan, presents a paper prepared by Dr Fiona Thorne, outlining how Irish farmers remain compet...

One of the highlights of the Irish tillage calendar is the Teagasc National Tillage Conference, a must-attend event to hear about the latest research, innovation and agronomy.    For this week’s Tillage Edge, Dr. Ewen Mullins, Head of Crop Science at Teagasc, previews what to expect this year.     To register for the National Tillage conference visit:  https://teagasc.ie/crops/crops/events/#NTC202...

John Mahon, Tillage Signpost Programme Advisor, discusses why proving the low-carbon grain advantage matters, the limits of existing data, and why annual, representative figures from Irish tillage farms are essential to meet buyer requirements and ultimately support increased payments for low-carbon grain.    This episode of the Tillage Edge outlines what farmers need to know and why participation...

Dr Richie Hackett, a crops researcher at Teagasc Oak Park, is on this week’s Tillage Edge to discuss managing large cover‑crop canopies.    He explains the range of control methods available and why timing of destruction is critical - particularly the timing of destruction for your crop establishment system.    Richie also explains practical dos and don’ts for direct ploughing of cover crops.   Fo...

We’re focusing on continuous education and the benefits that upskilling can bring on this week’s Tillage Edge.    Shay Phelan, Teagasc Tillage Specialist, and Phelim McDonald, Teagasc Tillage Advisor in Carlow, join the show to discuss how farmers can continue to develop their skills.    Shay emphasises that building knowledge - particularly around herbicide resistance - and putting that knowledge...

This is our final episode of 2025, and I want to wish you and your family a very Happy Christmas and New Year.    I’d also like to thank you for joining me, Michael Hennessy, every week as we explored a wide range of topics throughout the year. It’s always great to meet people at events who listen to the podcast and to hear the suggestions for future episodes.   This year, Dermot Forristal, a long...

For this week’s Tillage Edge, we look beyond the headline events and discuss the trends and challenges that have shaped tillage farming over the past year.   Richie Hackett, independent agricultural consultant based in Dublin, and John Dunne, Cereals Variety Manager with Goldcrop in Cork, join the podcast to discuss the tillage year.     They talk about what growers can take from a season marked b...

GPS technology is now commonplace on tillage farms but many do not have auto steer installed.     Francis Quigley, Farm Machinery Specialist in Teagasc, joins the podcast to talk about how he built a GPS autosteer system from scratch using the AgOpenGPS platform.   Francis doesn’t describe himself as an electronics or computer expert and maintains that building a system like this is within the rea...

For this 2nd episode in a two part series, we re-join the conservation with James McDonnell, Financial Specialist with Teagasc, to discuss how farmers can get the most from their accounts and find out if there are other mechanisms, such as partnerships which can help them maximise their take home income.   For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to: https://www.teagasc.i...

Getting value from your tax accounts isn’t just about reducing the tax you pay each year, they can also provide important insights into your business and help you spot trends over time.     For this week's Tillage Edge, the first in a two-part series, James McDonnell, Financial Specialist with Teagasc, explains how farmers can get the most from their accounts.   Along with highlighting the key are...

This week we feature a recent instalment of the Signpost Series with Don Somers, a Wexford tillage farmer and the overall winner of the Teagasc FBD Environmental Sustainability Award 2025.   Don describes his commitment to soil health through regular soil testing, the use of organic manures, and the precision application of fertilisers.    Don also discusses the measures he has taken to protect wa...

Teagasc Tillage Specialists, Shay Phelan and Ciarán Collins, discuss the key findings from the Teagasc Harvest Report 2025 on this week’s Tillage Edge.    Shay outlines how favourable weather and strong winter crop performance led to higher yields and a national cereal production of 2.23 million tonnes of grain.   It’s not all rosy, however, as Ciarán highlights the continued pressure on farm marg...

Teagasc Oak Park is Ireland’s most visited tillage farm, welcoming plenty of open days, international visitors, and discussion groups throughout the year.    This week, we’re joined by Oak Park Farm Manager, Brendan Bourke, for an autumn update from the farm.   Brendan chats about the different establishment methods they’ve been using, the new roller that’s been put to work, and how they’re adding...