Shows / The Tillage Edge
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
Episodes
The Tillage EdgeWinter Cereals: What Needs Attention Right Now
With the bulk of winter cereals now planted, attention on many farms has turned to tasks such as weed control, aphid management and keeping birds out of newly…
The Tillage EdgeGlobal Grain Markets: What Irish Farmers Need to Know
Global events are having an increasingly direct impact on agricultural markets, with rising fuel costs, geopolitical tensions and disruptions to international…
The Tillage EdgeThe Future of Crop Protection: Is Europe Falling Behind?
Olivier de Matos, Director General CropLife Europe (CLE), which is a group in the EU who lobby on behalf of chemical companies, joins this week’s Tillage Edge…
The Tillage EdgeOak Park farm autumn planning is on track
Brendan Burke, Farm Manager of the Teagasc Oak Park research farm in Carlow, joins Michael Hennessy to review the season to date. They discuss how weather…
The Tillage EdgeBetter Weed Control Begins Before Emergence
As soon as cereal planting is completed, attention turns to protecting crops and laying the foundations for strong weed control. On this episode of the Tillage…
The Tillage EdgeFarm Succession: Starting the Conversation
Farm succession is one of the most important conversations any farm family will have, yet it is often one of the most difficult to start. On this week’s…
The Tillage EdgeWhy soil sampling is a critical task on every farm
We rely on our soils more than any other resource to deliver crop performance and farm profitability year after year. Just like machinery, soils require…
The Tillage EdgeThe Soil Monitoring Law is coming – how will it affect tillage farmers?
Lillian O’Sullivan, a Soil Researcher with Teagasc, joins the Tillage Edge podcast to discuss the new Soil Monitoring Law being introduced across Europe and…
The Tillage EdgeFrom the Crops Forum Part 2: Adjusting rotations & controlling BYDV
The Teagasc Crops Forum took place last week, bringing together a range of informative presentations focused on the latest developments in tillage production…
The Tillage EdgeFrom the Crops Forum: New varieties & the best way to control grass weeds
The Teagasc Crops Forum took place this week featuring a range of informative presentations focused on the latest developments in tillage production. For this…
The Tillage EdgeReturning a better margin in 2027 – a preview of the Teagasc Crops Forum
Everyone in the industry is asking how tillage can remain competitive into the future. Poor yields are often blamed on the weather, but other factors such as…
The Tillage EdgeHarvest round up from Tillage Signpost farmers
The harvest of combinable crops is almost complete and for this episode of The Tillage Edge, Michael Hennessy speaks with Tillage Signpost farmers Tom Tierney…
The Tillage EdgeOilseed rape still the star crop on most farms
Oilseed rape has been a strong performer on Irish farms thanks to consistent yields, high prices and potential for lower production costs. Eoin Lyons, Teagasc…
The Tillage EdgePlanting cover crops using a drone
Drone technology is becoming more accessible and increasingly useful on tillage farms and on this episode of The Tillage Edge, Michael Hennessy speaks with…
The Tillage EdgeThe highs and lows of the harvest so far
With more than half the harvest completed overall (and some areas more than 80% finished), Teagasc advisors, Michael McCarthy (Cork), Mark Trimble (Kilkenny)…
The Tillage EdgeWhy Stubble Cultivation Lowers Your Weed Burden
Reducing the seed burden in the soil is key to lowering weed pressure in subsequent growing crops and for this week’s Tillage Edge, Dr Vijaya Bhaskar, a weed…
The Tillage EdgeHarvest 2026 – how it is shaping up so far
With the harvest well underway and the continued good weather, farms are proceeding without a hitch. Shay Phelan and Ciaran Collins, Tillage Specialists with…
The Tillage EdgeWhy Cation Exchange Capacity Matters on Your Farm
Eddie Casey spoke to Michael Hennessy at the recent Johnstown Castle Research Centre Open Day to talk about Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) and why it’s…
The Tillage EdgeMaintaining quality seeds through the supply chain
Purchased seed is a foundational part of crop production each year and for this week’s Tillage Edge, Michael Hennessy caught up with Jim Cunningham, Seed Plant…
The Tillage EdgeSoil health matter to boost yields
At the recent Johnstown Castle Research Centre Open Day, Michael Hennessy caught up with Dr. Fiona Brennan, a Teagasc Senior Researcher in Soil Microbiology…
The Tillage EdgeNew varieties from Goldcrop
New varieties help maintain or increase on-farm yields and Michael Hennessy caught up with John Dunne, Trials Manager at Goldcrop, after their Dunleer open day…
The Tillage EdgeBrian Caldbeck in the US on Wheat, Drought & the Coming Harvest
Getting an international perspective can help put current grain-market conditions into context — and for this episode of The Tillage Edge, Brian Caldbeck, an…
The Tillage EdgeOpening the Gate: Sustainable Farming in Practice at Don Somers’ Farm
Don Somers, a tillage farmer from Wexford, and the overall winner of the Environmental Sustainability award in 2025, joins The Tillage Edge, along with John…
The Tillage EdgeReport from the UK on the drought and blackgrass control
Dubliner Andy Mahon, who is farm manager of the Bromborough Estate in Northamptonshire, UK, discusses crop conditions, how the business is coping with the…
The Tillage EdgeCrop update from Kildare
North Kildare farmer, Phillip Harris, and Teagasc advisor, John Brophy, discuss crop progress and management challenges on this week’s Tillage Edge. Phillip…
The Tillage EdgeCost driven choices: Jim McCarthy on his changing machinery policy
We re-join the conversation with Jim McCarthy, who farms an extensive holding in north-eastern Romania, as Jim walks us through recent changes on the farm…
- The Tillage Edge
Crop Update from the South of the Country
Michael McCarthy, a Teagasc tillage advisor, and Tom Barry, a farmer near Mallow, Cork, discuss how crops in their area are progressing. This spring brought…
The Tillage EdgeCover Crops and Cashflow: Jim McCarthy on Farming in Romania
Jim McCarthy, who is farming a large tract of land in Romania, joins this week’s Tillage Edge to talk about the progress on his farm over the past few months…
The Tillage EdgeControlling weeds and wild oats in spring cereals
Weed control is becoming more difficult with herbicide resistance of one or more weeds now on most farms. For this episode of The Tillage Edge, Ciaran Collins…
The Tillage EdgeHow important will BYDV control be in 2026?
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…
The Tillage EdgeThe Tillage Roadmap: Ambitious targets for the tillage sector
Last month Teagasc published sector roadmaps, including the Tillage Roadmap 2030, which sets production and sustainability targets and outlines changes needed…
The Tillage EdgeTailoring nitrogen for better returns
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…
The Tillage EdgeCritical field work to be completed as soon as possible
As spring moves into peak planting season, the ideal window for establishing several crops is closing quickly. Conor Kavanagh, a tillage advisor from…
The Tillage EdgeYellow Rust is a Threat to All Winter Wheat Crops
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…
The Tillage EdgeWait for the Right Conditions Before Planting
With the recent improvement in weather and a favourable forecast ahead, planting of spring cereals has now begun. Ciaran Collins and Shay Phelan, Tillage…
The Tillage EdgeGetting the Most from Fertilisers as Prices Rise
Rising tensions in the Middle East have once again caused volatility in fertiliser markets, pushing prices higher and creating uncertainty. With these costs…
The Tillage EdgeField work to prioritise in the coming week
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…
The Tillage EdgeSpring beans – what you need to know for 2026
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…
The Tillage EdgeHome-Grown Protein: Opportunities for Beans in Poultry Feed
Working with the EU funded VALPRO Path project team, Michael Hennessy visits agricultural grain drying and storage specialists McArthur BDC in the UK. Michael…
The Tillage EdgeWhy your sustainability story deserves recognition – 2025 winner, Don Somers, on the importance of the Environmental Sustainability Award
Don Somers, the Wexford tillage farmer who won the 2025 Teagasc–FBD Environmental Sustainability Award, and Siobhán Kavanagh from Teagasc’s Signpost Farm…
The Tillage EdgeThe key issues to shape tillage farming in the years ahead
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…
The Tillage EdgeHow competitive is Irish grain production?
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…
The Tillage EdgeA Preview of the National Tillage Conference 2026
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…
The Tillage EdgeProve It: Tillage Farmers’ AgNav Data & the Case for Low Carbon Grain
John Mahon, Tillage Signpost Programme Advisor, discusses why proving the low-carbon grain advantage matters, the limits of existing data, and why annual…
The Tillage EdgeCover Crop Control Options Explained
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…
The Tillage EdgeUpskilling will pay benefits
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…
The Tillage EdgeRepost: Why the plough still pulls weight – and what’s replacing it
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…
The Tillage EdgeLessons from the 2025 Tillage Season
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…
The Tillage EdgeA winter project - building your own GPS autosteer system
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…
The Tillage EdgeMaximising your take home income
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 Tillage EdgeGetting more from your tax accounts
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…
The Tillage EdgeThe award-winning sustainable tillage farm
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…
The Tillage EdgeHarvest Results: How Irish Tillage Performed in 2025
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…
The Tillage EdgeAutumn update from the Teagasc Oakpark farm
Teagasc Oak Park is Ireland’s most visited tillage farm, welcoming plenty of open days, international visitors, and discussion groups throughout the year. This…
The Tillage EdgePost-emerge weed control and aphid control in winter cereals
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…
The Tillage EdgeBenchmarking: Focusing Efforts to Improve Farm Performance
Benchmarking helps farmers see where they stand and identify opportunities to improve profit and efficiency. For this week’s Tillage Edge podcast, Michael…
The Tillage EdgeMake every input count: adding to the bottom line
Professor Andrew McGuire from Washington State University joins Michael Hennessy on this week’s Tillage Edge podcast to discuss how to assess the real value of…
The Tillage EdgeDigging into soil samples
We look at why improving soils is so important and how understanding the basics — from soil structure to nutrient interactions — can help you make lasting…
The Tillage EdgeThe benefits of pre-emergent herbicides
Planting of winter cereals is now underway, with good progress being made in the north-east, while things are moving a little slower in the south. As crops go…
The Tillage EdgeRye margins are better than barley
As winter cereal planting gets underway, farmers are focusing on crop mix decisions and the impact on farm margins. For this episode of The Tillage Edge, we…