The Dairy Edge

Emily Gowing, Teagasc Dairy Advisor based in Dungarvan, Co Waterford, joins James Dunne for an update on the current situation on farms in her catchment and she has some key pieces of advice for farmers over the coming weeks. 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 La...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses:  The need to walk the farm to assess grass growth and supply on farm Reducing demand on farm  Caution with fertiliser And the featured farm update comes from Sean Carpenter, Co. Kildare.   Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at: https://bit.ly/Grass10-28thJuly   For more episodes fro...

Colman Purcell, Nutritionist with Dairygold Agri Business, joins Stuart Childs to discuss managing stock in drought or near drought conditions. Colman praises the farmers in the Dairygold catchment who have been affected by the dry weather for how they have dealt with it up to now, maintaining milk and protein performance, a response that he credits to their knowledge of how to react in these situ...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses:  Assessing grass supply on farm Reducing demand on farm Nutrient application during reduced growth Water supply And the featured farm update comes from Cathal Nash, Co. Clare. Plus, Pat Tuohy of Teagasc joins John for a land drainage discussion and Q&A.   Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for wee...

Pádraig French from Teagasc, who is closely involved in dairy-beef research, including the Ballyvadin Calf-to-Beef Demonstration Farm, joins James Dunne on this week’s Dairy Edge.  They discuss the key management practices that drive performance, the role of Commercial Beef Value (CBV), what makes these systems financially successful, and what the latest research is telling us about the future of...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses:  Managing reduced growth Making a grazing plan for the coming 10 days (no rain forecast) How can farms reduce demand? Plus the featured farm update comes from Paul Bowden, Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny.   Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at: https://bit.ly/Grass10-14thJuly   For more e...

John O’Loughlin, Head of Sustainability at Grassland Agro, joins Stuart Childs to discuss the impact of CBAM, fertiliser advice in dry conditions and two upcoming farm walks that will be worth attending this July.   John first explains the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) which is adding approximately €50/t to urea in 2026, with the potential to rise significantly in future years. Wh...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses:  -       Managing reduced growth -       Walk the farm -       2nd cut silage -       Infrastructure Month   Plus the featured farm update comes from Tommie Devine, Co. Roscommon   Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at: https://bit.ly/Grass10-7thJune     For more episodes from the D...

Longford dairy farmer, Cian Jobe’s journey into dairy farming is one that's likely to resonate with many young people interested in the industry.    Growing up on a suckler farm, he developed a passion for dairying through relief milking before progressing through agricultural education, farm management and, more recently, farming in his own right.    Cian joins James Dunne to talk about the exper...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses:  -          Mid-season management -          Managing 2nd cut -          Establish fertiliser spread year to date   Plus the featured farm update comes from the Derrypatrick Herd, Dunsany, Co. Meath.   Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at: https://bit.ly/Grass10-30thJune     For mo...

Tom and Michael Ryan, winners of the NDC and Kerrygold Quality Milk Award for 2025, join Stuart Childs on the day of their farm walk following their win.   Tom gives a bit of background to the their farm and how they have been farming there since the 1860s.    Michael then explains the decisions made to facilitate him returning home in 2018 and he outlines the current performance of the herd and h...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses:  -       mid-season management -       red clover silage and managing 2nd cut silage -       spraying and grazing reseeds -       establishing fertiliser spread year to date   Plus the featured farmer is Liam Rochford from Croase, Co. Wexford.   Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at...

With increasing pressure on dairy farms to reduce nitrogen inputs whilst maintaining profitability, technologies such as white clover are attracting renewed interest.    But how well does clover perform on heavier type soils that are common across the Border, Midlands and Western region, and how can farmers reduce fertiliser and feed nitrogen inputs without compromising grass growth or milk produc...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher says concentrate input should be reduced on farms where grass supply is adequate (cover/LU >160 kg DM/LU).  A third of farms are over target and have a cover/LU >190 kg DM/ha. This will negatively impact: -       Grass quality - negative impact on animal performance -       Clean out of swards - feed wastage -       Grass recovery...

Ricki Fitzgerald, Farm Manager of the Teagasc Moorepark Kilworth Farm, and Brian McCarthy, Researcher in Teagasc Moorepark, join Stuart Childs with a run down on how the year has gone so far on the Kilworth Farm and to talk a little about the Next Gen 2 trial that is in its first full year in 2026.   Ricki says they had quite a good spring in 2026 despite the weather challenges with minimal health...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher explains that June is a challenging month for grass quality as we are now in the main heading phase for perennial ryegrass.   Pre grazing yield is too high on many farms: -       Watch rotation length (Target 18-21 days) -       Minimise stem content -       Grazing covers >1500 kg DM/ha will have a negative effect on animal performa...

With breeding season reaching the midpoint on many spring-calving dairy farms, we're taking stock of how the season has progressed so far and discussing the key management decisions for the weeks ahead.   Doreen Corridan, CEO of NCBC, joins James Dunne to discuss breeding performance to date, trends in dairy and beef semen usage, managing cows that have yet to be served, and the key actions farmer...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses tackling surplus grass and why flexibility is required to take out surplus bales.   Plus he explains how grazed grass delivers the lowest feed cost, even with higher fertiliser prices.   Meanwhile, the featured farmer is John Payne from Moydow, Co. Longford.   Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for wee...

With the increased cost of fuel and fertiliser, Peter Doyle, Grassland Researcher in Teagasc, Grange, joins Stuart Childs to discuss the cost of growing grass, silage and other feeds.   Peter outlines the costs that he uses in the Grange Feed Costing Model which are of course assumptions but are necessary for the model to function.   He emphasises that grazed grass delivers the lowest feed cost, e...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher explains that the challenge on farm now will be keeping the right grass in front of the animals.   Swards of low or no stem will maximise animal performance Performance is maximised when the pre-grazing yield is between 1300-1400 kg DM/ha.   Meanwhile, the featured farmer is Michael McGuigan, from Longwood, Co. Meath.   Read more from t...

This week we’re discussing generational renewal in Irish dairying and the challenges facing farmers young farmers trying to enter and progress within the sector while also discussing what options are available to farmers who may not have an identified successor.   Joining James Dunne is Conor Hogan from the GROdairy Project — Generational Renewal Opportunities for Irish Dairy Farm Businesses — a n...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses the impact of pre-grazing yield on protein, plus how to correct pre-grazing yield on farm.   Meanwhile, the featured farmer is John Phelan from Kilmeaden, Co. Waterford.   Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at: https://bit.ly/Grass10-19thMay       For more episodes from the Dairy Edg...

Claire Mooney, Catchment Coordinator for the Suir, joins Stuart Childs to discuss practical tips for farmers in relation to improving water quality.   Claire first explains immediate on-farm actions to improve environmental compliance and efficiency, including better silage management, protecting waterways with fencing and alternative drinking points, improving slurry and effluent handling, using...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher says that the majority of farms are grazing covers too high.   As we move further into May, grass composition is changing and keeping grass quality correct becomes more challenging.   To ensure grass quality is maintained to maximise animal performance pre-grazing yield has to be between 1300-1400 kg DM/ha.   Meanwhile, the featured far...

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher explains why the target for pre-grazing yield in the mid-season is 1300-1400 kg DM/ha.   John also discusses first cut silage and taking surplus bales to be part of grassland management over the next month.   Meanwhile, the featured farmer is David Lowry from Churchminister, Co. Donegal.   Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter a...