The Dairy Edge

Fermanagh man Rodney Elliott, who is farming in the US state of South Dakota, joins James Dunne on this week’s Dairy Edge.  In the first of a two part interview, Rodney outlines how he went from farming 140 dairy cows in Maguiresbridge, Co Fermanagh to operating two large scale dairy units in the US.  He describes how the business has grown over time, some of the challenges met along the way and how he overcame them.  Rodney discusses what farming KPIs matter in the running of the business and how he manages costs and market volatility.  Image: https://www.midwestdairy.com  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 LastCastMedia.com

For this week’s episode of the Dairy Edge, in conjunction with Catherine Egan of the Beef Edge and Ciaran Lynch of OviCast, we talk to John Donlon, veterinary lecturer in Atlantic Technological University about bluetongue. John first describes the disease and explains how it presents in sheep, cattle, alpacas and other cloven hooved animals. He then explains how, in reality, the risk period should have passed at this stage of the year as midges that act as the vector for the disease should be gone by now. The cold weather is a help in that midge activity will be reduced or eliminated but that doesn’t mean the risk isn’t still there. People must remain vigilant and notify their vet and relevant authorities in the event of suspecting an animal has bluetongue. Trading implications could exist were a case to be identified in the Republic which would have ramifications for livestock movements, but currently there are no restrictions as the country is still bluetongue free. If a case were to be discovered, vaccines are available to reduce the severity of the disease but one would have to get an emergency license from the Department of Agriculture. Careful monitoring of stock for any signs are advised and swift notification, if identified, to facilitate rapid control is advised. 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 LastCastMedia.com

For this week’s final Grass10 grazing management update of the year, John Maher discusses current grazing advice, including opening cover targets and fodder assessment, plus he looks back on the grazing year in review. Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:https://bit.ly/Grass10-9thDecember2025   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 LastCastMedia.com

We’re reposting an episode from October with Teagasc Dairy Specialist, Patrick Gowing, who joined James Dunne on the Dairy Edge to discuss how to best manage surplus cash, build financial resilience, review production costs, and ensure farmers are best prepared for 2026. As 2025 draws to a close, it will be remembered as one of the best farming years in recent memory due to strong milk prices, increased stock values and good weather for most parts. This means that dairy farm incomes are in a good place for the 2025 calendar year.   Although it has to be acknowledged milk prices have seen significant reductions in the last number of months, the effects of this will be felt more so in spring 2026 as higher constituents at this time of year are having a positive impact on the farm gate prices received.   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 LastCastMedia.com

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses current grazing advice. Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:https://bit.ly/Grass10-2ndDec2025 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 LastCastMedia.com

Teagasc hosted the National Dairy Conference last week in both Clonmel and Cavan, and the theme of the conference was, ‘Pathways to Progress’, with key sessions on milk price and key farm performance priorities, collaborative farming arrangements and driving further progress in Irish dairy breeding.  James Dunne caught up with Joe Patton, Martina Gormley and Stuart Childs to gain an insight into some of the main messages from the conference. Link to conference papers and presentations: https://teagasc.ie/publications/national-dairy-conference-2025/ 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 LastCastMedia.com

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses current grazing advice. Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:https://bit.ly/Grass10-25thNov25 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 LastCastMedia.com

Edmund Motherway, from Ladysbridge, near Midleton, was the Overall Winner of the Student Section of the Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year Awards and he joins Stuart Childs on this week’s Dairy Edge. Edmund was always interested in farming as a child, however, due to the scale of the home farm, he didn’t think he had a future in farming. A transition year placement at a nearby father and son partnership opened his eyes to ways to potentially making farming a viable career option. Edmund is now farming in partnership with his father and they have expanded their land base in the last 12-18 months through leasing and as a result have pushed up their cow numbers.  Edmund also acknowledges the significant influence that the two farmers that he did his placements with have had on him and how he got such benefit from his time with them. Finally, he outlines what he would like to see to encourage generational renewal including a potential incentive to lease to a young farmer or revision of TAMS costings to more accurately reflect the true cost of machinery and building works so that a 40% grant would be just that.  He is hopeful that other opportunities to expand will present themselves and that they will be in a position to act on them if they come. Don’t forget, this week the National Dairy Conferences are being held in Clonmel and Cavan on November 26th and 27th and for more info, go to: https://teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/events/  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 LastCastMedia.com

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses current grazing advice, while the featured farmer is Mike Ahern from Ballyduff, Co. Waterford. Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates at:https://bit.ly/Grass10-18thNov25 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 LastCastMedia.com

Joe Patton, Head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer in Teagasc, joins Stuart Childs on the latest Dairy Edge to preview the upcoming Dairy Conferences. With sudden drops in milk price catching many farmers off guard and even many of those who work in the area of forecasting prices, Joe explains, however, that the best-performing farms remain the best ones regardless of price cycles. Farmers shouldn’t overhaul their system each time the price rises or falls. Instead, consistent fundamentals — good cows, strong grazing management, stable stocking rates and control of costs are what carry farms through the lows of the volatility cycle. High-margin farms succeed because they invest strategically rather than overspending on the back of a good year only to find themselves short of cash in a tight year. Joe emphasises the need for cash planning, avoiding impulsive “tax-driven” spending and having approximately €500 per cow available to get through to the next big milk cheques in late spring. Joe also highlights the long-term value created by EBI-driven genetic improvement, the growing role of data (grass prediction tools, cost benchmarks), and the importance of collaborative farming and succession planning. These enable better decision-making, smoother transitions between generations, and continued productivity despite policy and cost pressures. If you want to hear more on these topics, you are welcome to attend the National Dairy Conferences in either Clonmel or Cavan on November 26th and 27th and for more info, go to: https://teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/events/ 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 LastCastMedia.com

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses current grazing advice and setting up for the spring, while the featured farmer is Gerry Finneran, Carrignavar, Co. Cork. Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter at:https://bit.ly/Grass10-11thNov25 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 LastCastMedia.com

Philip Murphy, Catchment Coordinator for the River Blackwater, joins Stuart Childs on this week’s Dairy Edge to discuss applying water quality and addressing it. Philip explains that his role focuses on addressing agricultural pressures on water quality across the wider Blackwater catchment, beyond the already targeted high-priority areas, through providing clear, consistent advice to farmers and advisors, helping to raise awareness where one-to-one guidance is not currently available. He outlines how targeted areas are selected using EPA monitoring data and highlights the difference between nitrogen and phosphorus impacts, noting phosphorus affects rivers while nitrogen impacts in the estuaries. Finally, Philip emphasises that improvements take time, often years, but farmers are already doing positive work. His key message is for farmers to engage with advisors, consider schemes like Farming for Water, and continue adopting practical, farm-specific measures to protect local water quality. 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 LastCastMedia.com

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses current grazing advice, while the featured farmer is Will Griffin, Co. Carlow. Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter at:https://bit.ly/Grass10-4thNovember25  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 LastCastMedia.com

Aisling Claffey, Teagasc ruminant nutritionist, joins James Dunne on this week’s Dairy Edge to discuss what’s important to remember when it comes to the upcoming dry cow period. 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 LastCastMedia.com

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses current grazing advice and closing up for early spring grass.    The featured farmer is John Payne, from Co. Longford who is targeting a closing AFC of  800 kg DM/ha on Dec 1st. Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter at:https://bit.ly/Grass10-28thOctober2025 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 LastCastMedia.com

Teagasc Dairy Specialist, Patrick Gowing, joins James Dunne on this week’s Dairy Edge to discuss how to best manage surplus cash, build financial resilience, review production costs, and ensure farmers best prepared for 2026. As 2025 draws to a close, it will be remembered as one of the best farming years in recent memory due to strong milk prices, increased stock values and good weather for most parts. This means that dairy farm incomes are in a good place for the 2025 calendar year.   Although it has to be acknowledged milk prices have seen significant reductions in the last number of months, the effects of this will be felt more so in spring 2026 as higher constituents at this time of year are having a positive impact on the farm gate prices received.   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 LastCastMedia.com

John Maher has the latest Grass10 grazing management update, and this week’s featured farmer is Niall O’Regan from Mallow, Co. Cork. Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter at:https://bit.ly/grass10-21stOctober2025 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 LastCastMedia.com

John Maher, Grass10 Manager, and John Leahy, dairy farmer in Athea, Co. Limerick, join Stuart Childs on this week’s Dairy Edge to discuss applying lime. Despite difficult weather a few weeks ago, things have improved, John explains, and ground conditions, rotation length and money in the bank will allow people to spread lime. John outlines that we are very short of where we should be in terms of lime applied to where we should be. It’s more than 40 years since we spread over 2 million tonnes of lime which is what we should be applying. John Leahy tells of his experience of increasing the pH on his farm. He went after it hard at the start and got it up to where it should be now and he’s at the point where 20-40t keeps him on point each year. John also outlines how he went after the lime as he felt he could spend a lot of money on fertiliser with little return. He has gotten a phenomenal response to his lime applications.  His soil fertility has taken nearly 10 years to get right but he got his lime right from the start.Opportunities will present themselves, people need to take them, he says. For a list of suppliers of lime go to: https://www.grolime.ie/ 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 LastCastMedia.com

For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses current grazing advice and closing up for early spring grass.  It’s a great opportunity to spread lime - the cheapest fertiliser one can buy!   The featured farmer is Mark Lonergan, who is from Co. Tipperary and is targeting a closing AFC of  750 kg DM/ha on Dec 1st.  Read more from this week’s Grass10 newsletter at:https://bit.ly/grass10-14thOctober2025 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 LastCastMedia.com

Teagasc Research Officer, Pablo Silva Boloña, whose work focuses on milk quality, dairy cow mastitis and selective dry cow therapy, joins James Dunne on this week’s Dairy Edge.  Pablo explains selective dry therapy and why it is being implemented on Irish dairy farms, plus he highlights the important management steps to ensure its successful implementation at farm level.  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 LastCastMedia.com