The Tillage Edge

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 current soil fertility trends and how farmers can get the best return from applied fertilisers. Veronica outlines how higher fertiliser prices are encouraging growers to consider using organic manures as a potentially more affordable nutrient source. 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

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 results later.The closing date for the Tillage Sustainability Support Payment is on Monday March 9th.  All farmers with tillage should apply.  For more information: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/services/tillage-sustainability-support-payment/   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

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 establishment decisions, including field selection, soil conditions, drilling timing, seed rates, and achieving optimal plant populations.  The guests also share practical advice on nutrition and weed control. 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

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, along with results from large commercial poultry units, show that beans can successfully compete with soya in feed rations. John also discusses how improved infrastructure and local processing could create new markets for UK-grown protein crops, reduce reliance on imported soya, and at the same time add value across the arable sector.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

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, supports available to applicants and practical first steps farmers can take now to prepare for the 2026 awards.  The deadline for applications is the end of February and full details and how to apply are at: https://teagasc.ie/environment/climate-change-air-quality/signpost-programme/sustainability-awards/about-the-awards/#apply  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 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 suitability of rye varieties for higher-value markets; while Stephen Kildea outlines how chocolate spot in beans has developed fungicide resistance in recent years. All the slides from the conference are available at:https://teagasc.ie/publications/national-tillage-conference-2026-presentations/ 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

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 competitive due to high yields, whilst highlighting that national averages can mask large differences between the most and least profitable farms. Links to all presentations from the 2026 National Tillage Conference are at:https://teagasc.ie/publications/national-tillage-conference-2026-presentations/  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 

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/#NTC2026  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 

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 is critical for securing long-term value for Irish grain. 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 

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. 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 

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 into practice is essential for the long-term sustainability of the farm. 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 

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-time Teagasc researcher and a regular contributor to The Tillage Edge podcast retired.  An episode we recorded with him earlier in the year on cultivation systems proved extremely popular, so today we're going to revisit that conversation. Dermot takes us through over 100 years of crop establishment practices, explaining how changes in machinery have influenced - and enabled - new approaches to soil cultivation.  He also shares insights into why the plough dominated for so long, and what factors are now driving farmers to consider alternative systems. 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 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 by variable weather, shifting input costs, evolving disease pressures, and ongoing changes in crop performance. 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 

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 reach of most people. See a series of videos on AgOpenGPS here: AgOpenGPS - v6 - YouTube 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 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.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

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 areas farmers should focus on, James also talks through practical ways farmers can legitimately reduce their tax bill each year. 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 

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 water quality on his farm — actions that not only support his own business but also safeguard water resources for the wider community. 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 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 margins and declining markets for some crops.  The discussion also covers oilseed rape, and protein crops, along with potential opportunities emerging in the straw market. 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 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 extra vermin protection to the harvesting equipment ahead of winter. 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 

Conor Kavanagh, a Teagasc tillage advisor in Tipperary, joins Michael on this week’s Tillage Edge to discuss weed control strategies in winter cereals. Michael also chats with John Pettit, a Teagasc tillage advisor based in Wexford, about BYDV control strategies. Conor first explains that it’s important to apply post-emergence herbicides as early as possible, as they’re far less effective on grass weeds when applied late.  John notes that, for now, the approach to controlling aphids in BYDV-tolerant varieties remains the same as for non-tolerant ones, though ongoing research is expected to provide clearer guidance on future strategies. 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