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PODCAST

The Tillage Edge

The Tillage Edge is Teagasc"s weekly tillage podcast, presented by Michael Hennessy, bringing you weekly episodes covering the agronomy needs of crops throughout the season with input from Teagasc researchers and views from across the industry. The Tillage Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com

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All Episodes

26:06

Is oilseed rape for 2026 a safer bet than cereals?

The Tillage Edge ·

2025/08/14

Phelim McDonald, Teagasc's tillage advisor in the Carlow–Wexford region, and Shay Phelan, Teagasc tillage specialist, are on this week’s Tillage Edge to talk about oilseed rape planting for 2026. Shay explains why oilseed rape offers a safer financial margin than cereals, thanks to its relatively stable price and consistent yield. Phelim discusses seeding rates and rotational positions for both conventional and Clearfield varieties. For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge

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19:42

Harvest 2025 – some record yields reported

The Tillage Edge ·

2025/08/07

To find out about the harvest progress across the country, Michael Hennessy talks with John Brophy, Teagasc tillage advisor in north Kildare, and Ciaran Collins, Teagasc tillage specialist. They share yield updates for winter barley, wheat, oats, and oilseed rape, and discuss early results for spring barley. The conversation also covers how this year compares to past seasons and the prospects for later-sown crops. For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go

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18:53

Investing in the Future: Choosing the Right Combine...

The Tillage Edge ·

2025/07/31

In this follow-up episode on combines, Michael Hennessy continues his conversation with Dermot Forristal, a researcher in Teagasc, exploring the practical decisions farmers face when upgrading or maintaining a combine. They discuss the cost-benefit of new technology, ownership models, and how tools like yield mapping and RTK autosteer can support better farm decisions. Dermot also shares advice for future-proofing your harvest setup. For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge

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21:23

From thrashers to tech – the evolution of combines...

The Tillage Edge ·

2025/07/24

Dermot Forristal from Teagasc Oak Park, explores how combine harvesters have evolved over the past 60 years on this week’s Tillage Edge. From mechanical threshers to GPS-enabled machines, Dermot shares insights on key developments, the impact of farm size, and underused technologies that could boost efficiency. This is part one of a two-part series on combines. For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/

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20:49

Harvest 2025 Update

The Tillage Edge ·

2025/07/17

Teagasc Tillage Specialists, Ciaran Collins and Shay Phelan, discuss the harvest so far on this week’s Tillage Edge. They discuss how, to date, winter barley yields have been above the five-year average. However, Shay also highlights that some varieties have not performed as well as others. Ciaran emphasises the importance of managing stubbles — both for compliance and weed control — and advises growers to carefully calculate the maximum area that can be cultivated or left fallow for

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15:40

What’s behind Ireland’s Grain Quality Assurance?

The Tillage Edge ·

2025/07/10

Tom Kelly, Scheme Manager of the Irish Grain Assurance Scheme, joins us on this week’s Tillage Edge to discuss how Irish grain meets high quality standards. We explore the key elements of the scheme, its role in ensuring traceability and market confidence, and what it means for farmers on the ground. Tom also outlines new requirements around trailer identification and what farmers need to do in 2025. For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go

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21:08

Tillage AgNav tool, growing winter rye and tackling...

The Tillage Edge ·

2025/07/03

We continue our coverage from the recent Teagasc Crops and Technology Open Day in Oak Park, Carlow. Michael Hennessy speaks with John Spink about the launch of the Tillage AgNav programme which is an important new decision support tool for Irish tillage farmers. Richie Hackett shares advice on growing winter rye, a crop gaining popularity in recent years. And Stephen Kildea discusses wheat diseases, with a focus on why yellow rust has become more problematic in 2025. For more episodes and

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18:41

Highlights from the Oak Park Open Day

The Tillage Edge ·

2025/06/26

For this week’s Tillage Edge, we bring you highlights from the Teagasc Crops & Technology Open Day in Oak Park, Carlow. Michael Hennessy chats with Dr. Ewen Mullins about the event and farmer feedback, Veronica Nyhan gives a tour of the soil pit, and Jack Jameson discusses his wheat variety trials. Packed with practical insights and research updates, this episode captures key moments from a busy and engaging event. For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go

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15:53

Oak Park Open Day promises to be a great event

The Tillage Edge ·

2025/06/19

The Teagasc Crops and Technology Open Day is taking place next week in Oak Park and on this week’s Tillage Edge podcast, Dr Ewen Mullins, Head of Crops Research, and Dermot Forristal, Crops Researcher in Teagasc, preview the event. As Ewen explains, it will take people most of the day to get through the full array of research and agronomy stands, crop workshops and machinery demonstrations, not to mention the horticulture area and potato desiccation area. All are welcome and entry is free

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12:51

The Evolution of Sprayer Technology - Part 2

The Tillage Edge ·

2025/06/12

Sprayer technology has advanced significantly over the past decade, yet the core principle remains the same: delivering the correct spray quality and rate to the target area. For this week’s Tillage Edge podcast - the second of a two-part series with Dermot Forristal, a researcher with Teagasc - Dermot discusses the latest developments in sprayer technology, including nozzle technology and where this technology can be best used on farms. For more episodes and information from the Tillage

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20:20

US farmers are behind on plantings

The Tillage Edge ·

2025/06/05

The grain harvest in the United States has a significant impact on global markets - and directly influences harvest prices here in Ireland. So, for this week’s Tillage Edge, Brian Caldbeck, an Irishman running a seed business in Kentucky, returns to the show to discuss how US farmers are faring this season. Brian explains that farmers in the Kentucky area are currently facing very wet conditions, which are delaying the completion of planting. However, he notes that overall plantings across

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16:12

The Evolution of Sprayer Technology – Part 1

The Tillage Edge ·

2025/05/29

Sprayer technology has advanced significantly over the past decade, yet the core principle remains the same: delivering the correct spray quality and rate to the target area.For this week's Tillage Edge podcast — the first of a two-part series — Dermot Forristal, researcher with Teagasc, discusses the latest developments in sprayer technology and how these innovations can support farmers in the day-to-day management of their crops. For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge

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20:44

How Don Somers increases precision on his farm

The Tillage Edge ·

2025/05/22

Challenges like weather, product availability and varying soil types often means that blanket applications are the norm rather than precise, targeted inputs. This week, the Tillage Signpost programme held an event at Don Somers’ farm in county Wexford to explore how he’s applying inputs with greater accuracy and Michael Hennessy spoke to Don on the latest Tillage Edge podcast to find out more. For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go

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20:51

Dry conditions begin to bite and what that means for...

The Tillage Edge ·

2025/05/15

The dry conditions over the past 10 days - and with no rain in the forecast - means that spring crops in particular, are coming under pressure. John Pettit, a Teagasc tillage advisor in Wexford, and Ciaran Collins, a Teagasc tillage specialist, join the Tillage Edge this week to discuss the key agronomy actions needed over the next week to 10 days. Both John and Ciaran acknowledge the impact of the dry spell and note that, while the weather has reduced immediate disease pressure, the

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22:54

Yellow Rust, Ramularia & More: May’s Disease...

The Tillage Edge ·

2025/05/08

The coming weeks are critical for controlling foliar diseases in cereal crops and Dr Stephen Kildea, researcher at Teagasc Oak Park, joins the Tillage Edge this week to discuss the best disease management strategies for the weather conditions expected in May 2025. Stephen highlights the increased yellow rust pressure in some crops.“The main fungicide timings should be adequate to control this new yellow rust strain,” he says. “But I would encourage growers to examine their crops weekly

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29:26

Crop management for the week ahead and UK farming...

The Tillage Edge ·

2025/05/01

Ciaran Collins and Shay Phelan, both tillage specialists with Teagasc, join the Tillage Edge this week to discuss the key actions needed in crops over the next 7 to 10 days. We also hear from Andy Mahon, a Dubliner and farm manager in the UK, who shares his experience of the 2025 season so far. Andy highlights the stark realities facing UK farmers following the loss of direct payments and reflects on the shifting government attitude towards farming. For more episodes and information from

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20:31

Why the plough still pulls weight – and what’s...

The Tillage Edge ·

2025/04/24

The plough remains the most widely used crop establishment system in Ireland, but alternative methods can be just as effective under the right conditions. In this Tillage Edge episode, the first of two parts, Michael Hennessy is joined by Dermot Forristal, a Crops and Machinery Researcher at Teagasc Oak Park, to explore the history and evolution of cultivation systems in Irish tillage farming. Dermot takes us through over 100 years of crop establishment practices, explaining how changes in

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24:44

How will the US tariffs impact Irish tillage farmers?

The Tillage Edge ·

2025/04/17

The on-again, off-again tariffs being proposed by the US may have significant implications for Irish tillage farmers in the months and years ahead. For this episode of The Tillage Edge, Michael Hennessy is joined by Professor Michael Wallace, economist of agriculture and food in UCD, to discuss the potential effects of these global trade developments on the Irish tillage sector. Professor Wallace outlines the impact of existing tariffs and how new measures could further disrupt global

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22:58

Why the Teagasc Crop Report is an essential tool for...

The Tillage Edge ·

2025/04/10

With crop inputs being applied weekly, farmers and agronomists face constant decisions around product choice, application timing, and overall strategy. For this episode of The Tillage Edge, Denis Dunne, Trials Manager at Seedtech, joins us to discuss how he uses the Teagasc Crop Report as a vital tool — not just for daily agronomy decisions, but also to inform strategies for weed and disease control. Denis explains how the Crop Report incorporates the latest research, which in turn

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19:43

The best use of plant growth regulators

The Tillage Edge ·

2025/04/04

Crops are growing rapidly, and careful management is essential to prevent lodging before harvest. For this week’s Tillage Edge, Michael Hennessy is joined by Dr. Richie Hackett from Teagasc Oak Park to discuss strategies for reducing lodging risk and the best use of plant growth regulators (PGRs). Richie explains that high nitrogen rates and fertile fields are most vulnerable to lodging, and he also explains that variety selection plays a key role, noting that Champion winter wheat is more

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296 results

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