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 EdgeIs rye worth considering this year?
This year’s Crops Forum focused on rye and its potential on tillage and pig farms with Dr. Richie Hackett from Oak Park, Teagasc, delivering the keynote talk…
The Tillage EdgeChoosing Wheat Varieties for 2026 – Is Yellow Rust a Concern?
As cereal planting decisions loom, variety choice is more important than ever. This week's episode of the Tillage Edge looks at how shifting performance and…
The Tillage EdgeVarieties for 2026 - a report from the Seedtech Open Day
For this second Tillage Edge episode from seed company open days, Michael Hennessy catches up with Seedtech’s Tim O’Donovan after their open day in Waterford…
The Tillage EdgeThe Soil Cycle Project & getting the best from organic manures
Ciaran Collins, a Teagasc Tillage Specialist, explains the new Soil Cycle project and its goal of developing practical guidance for farmers on using organic…
The Tillage EdgeVarieties for 2026 – a report from Goldcrop’s open day
In the first of two episodes covering seed company open days held earlier this year, John Dunne from Goldcrop discusses the selection of varieties available…
The Tillage EdgeIs oilseed rape for 2026 a safer bet than cereals?
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…
The Tillage EdgeHarvest 2025 – some record yields reported
To find out about the harvest progress across the country, Michael Hennessy talks with John Brophy, Teagasc tillage advisor in north Kildare, and Ciaran…
The Tillage EdgeInvesting in the Future: Choosing the Right Combine for Your Farm
In this follow-up episode on combines, Michael Hennessy continues his conversation with Dermot Forristal, a researcher in Teagasc, exploring the practical…
The Tillage EdgeFrom thrashers to tech – the evolution of combines over the past 60 years
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…
The Tillage EdgeHarvest 2025 Update
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…
The Tillage EdgeWhat’s behind Ireland’s Grain Quality Assurance?
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…
The Tillage EdgeTillage AgNav tool, growing winter rye and tackling wheat diseases – highlights from the Oak Park Open Day part 2
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 EdgeHighlights from the Oak Park Open Day
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…
The Tillage EdgeOak Park Open Day promises to be a great event
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…
The Tillage EdgeThe Evolution of Sprayer Technology - Part 2
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 Tillage EdgeUS farmers are behind on plantings
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…
The Tillage EdgeThe Evolution of Sprayer Technology – Part 1
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 Tillage EdgeHow Don Somers increases precision on his farm
Challenges like weather, product availability and varying soil types often means that blanket applications are the norm rather than precise, targeted inputs…
The Tillage EdgeDry conditions begin to bite and what that means for disease control
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…
The Tillage EdgeYellow Rust, Ramularia & More: May’s Disease Challenges Across Crops
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…
The Tillage EdgeCrop management for the week ahead and UK farming realities
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…
The Tillage EdgeWhy the plough still pulls weight – and what’s replacing it
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…
The Tillage EdgeHow will the US tariffs impact Irish tillage farmers?
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…
The Tillage EdgeWhy the Teagasc Crop Report is an essential tool for agronomists & farmers
With crop inputs being applied weekly, farmers and agronomists face constant decisions around product choice, application timing, and overall strategy. For…
The Tillage EdgeThe best use of plant growth regulators
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…
The Tillage EdgeCrop agronomy for the next two weeks
With the weather allowing farmers to plant crops and treat winter crops in ideal conditions, the only concern is the harsh wind which was slowing growth. For…
The Tillage EdgePig slurry in tillage - a natural boost for soil & crops
We explore the benefits of using pig slurry as an alternative to chemical fertilisers in tillage farming on the latest Tillage Edge podcast. Michael McKeon…
The Tillage EdgeOn-farm trials: turning research into results
On-farm experimentation or trials come naturally to some farmers, while others see them as a hassle or someone else’s responsibility. On this week’s Tillage…
The Tillage EdgeIntegrating old ideas with new technology
This week on the Tillage Edge, we catch up with John Crowley, a Signpost tillage farmer from Wexford, to discuss his farming system. Located in the heart of…
The Tillage EdgeWhat is the ideal tyre for your farm?
When the rubber hits the road, that’s when the action happens - and when tyres hit the soil, that’s when compaction may become a serious issue. For this week’s…
The Tillage EdgeApplying nitrogen to winter crops
With spring just around the corner and crop growth set to take off shortly, Ciaran Collins, a Tillage Specialist with Teagasc, and John Pettit, Teagasc Tillage…
The Tillage EdgeJim McCarthy’s farming update from Romania
Jim McCarthy, who manages a large farming operation in Romania, shares his insights into the challenges of 2024 when extreme heat devastated yields across the…
The Tillage EdgeTillage’s environmental credentials – report from the National Tillage Conference
The environmental credentials of the tillage sector were discussed at this year’s National Tillage Conference and on this week’s Tillage Edge, we chat with Dr…
The Tillage EdgeReducing pesticides use will reduce yields
One of the standout topics at this year's National Tillage Conference was on pesticide reduction and the role of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Presenters…
The Tillage EdgeA preview of the National Tillage Conference
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 and…
The Tillage EdgeFarm Partnerships: Planning for Farm Succession (Part 4)
For the final part of our four-part series on farm succession, we chat to Ruth Fennell, a Collaborative Farm Specialist with Teagasc. Ruth discusses Farm…
The Tillage EdgeThe Key Steps to Successful Implementation: Planning for Farm Succession (Part 3)
For the third episode in our four-part series on farm succession planning, James McDonnell, a financial specialist with Teagasc, takes a closer look at the key…
The Tillage EdgeTax Implications of Farm Transfers: Planning for Farm Succession (Part 2)
For the second of the four-part series on farm succession ,we re-join James McDonnell, a financial specialist with Teagasc, to take a closer look at the…
The Tillage EdgeThe Next Generation: Planning for Farm Succession (Part 1)
In this first episode of a four-part series on The Tillage Edge, we explore how families can best plan for succession on the farm. James McDonnell, a financial…
The Tillage EdgeCalculating tillage incomes for 2024
Teagasc Economist, Dr. Fiona Thorne, discusses the key findings from the recent Teagasc Outlook 2025 conference on this week’s Tillage Edge. Tillage farm…
The Tillage EdgeLeading the Way in Sustainable Tillage, Part 2 with Tom Barry
For this week’s Tillage Edge, we rejoin Tom Barry, a tillage farmer from North Cork sharing how he's implementing sustainable farming practices using organic…
The Tillage EdgeLeading the Way in Sustainable Tillage: Tom Barry’s Environmental Journey (Part 1)
Tom Barry, a tillage farmer from North Cork, who has recently been recognised with multiple environmental awards, joins The Tillage Edge for a two-part series…
The Tillage EdgeWhat does a good rotation look like on your farm?
A year ago, many farmers faced significant challenges due to the unusually wet weather, which disrupted their crop rotations. For this week’s Tillage Edge…
The Tillage EdgeDisease control in oilseed rape
Winter oilseed rape has grown strongly over the past month but these conditions are also good for foliar disease development. Dr Stephen Kildea joins the…
The Tillage EdgeOrganic farming - is it a viable option for tillage farmers?
Organic farming is gaining attention as a viable option for tillage farmers, especially with the demand for organic feed in livestock production on the rise…
The Tillage EdgePost-emergence herbicide options for winter cereals
Over recent weeks, most farmers have had the opportunity to plant winter crops, with many crops well emerged. Ciaran Collins, a tillage specialist, and Vijaya…
The Tillage EdgeThe best strategies for controlling BYDV in winter cereals
With many crops just starting to emerge, it's time to think about protecting them from BYDV, or Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus. Dr. Louise McNamara, an entomologist…
The Tillage EdgeGrain Markets: Global Challenges and Supply Outlook with James Nolan
With harvest complete, farmers now have a clear understanding of the grain they have available for sale. While many have already sold their grain in forward…
The Tillage EdgeThe Department of Agriculture Fertiliser Register – the actions you need to take
The Department of Agriculture now has a full view of all nutrients imported onto tillage farms and this week on the Tillage Edge, Pat Murphy, Head of…
The Tillage EdgePre-emerge herbicides will give you better weed control
Weed control in winter cereals is essential to protect yields and to prevent weed seed return and on this week’s Tillage Edge, Shay Phelan and Ciaran Collins…
The Tillage EdgeSelect the varieties which best suit your farm
As planting season begins, the choice of crop varieties will shape the management practices for the year ahead. Ciaran Collins and Shay Phelan, Tillage…
The Tillage EdgeComparison of Crop Establishment Techniques for Growers
This week on The Tillage Edge podcast, we’re circling back to the National Tillage Conference from earlier this year and focusing on the trade-offs of…
The Tillage EdgeAssessing soils is the best route to healthier soils
Correctly structured healthy soils will deliver better returns for farmers and on this week’s Tillage Edge, Dr Veronica Nyhan, a soil and plant nutrition…
The Tillage EdgeHarvest results from around the country
There is a good proportion of the harvest completed and this week on The Tillage Edge podcast, Teagasc Tillage Advisors, Ciara O’Donovan, Conor O’Callaghan and…
The Tillage EdgeMixed harvest results from Poland and the UK
Tim Bergin, a Dublin man farming in Poland, and Andy Mahon, a Dubliner who manages a farm in the UK, join the Tillage Edge this week to chat about their…
The Tillage EdgeRichie Hackett explains how cover crops offer multiple benefits for farmers
Cover crops have many benefits for a farmer and also for the wider landscape and this week, Dr Richie Hackett, Teagasc Crops Researcher in Oak Park, joins the…
The Tillage EdgeThe Oilseed rape planning window is upon us - here's how to prepare for it
The ideal time to plant oilseed rape is in the next couple of weeks and so Shay Phelan and Ciaran Collins, Tillage Specialists in Teagasc, join the Tillage…
The Tillage EdgeThe harvest in Teagasc, Oak Park - progressing well despite the weather
The Teagasc crops research farm in Oak Park, Carlow, is in the middle of the harvest and Brendan Burke, the farm manager, joins the Tillage Edge this week to…
The Tillage EdgeMoney available for tillage farmers in the Water EIP project
Tillage farming has reasonably good environmental credentials but there is always room for improvement and Noel Meehan, ASSAP Manager, joins us on this week’s…
The Tillage EdgeA Kilkenny and Cork farmer talk about the harvest so far and the frustration over straw
Farmers, James O’Reilly, from Kilkenny, and James Hegarty, from Cork, join this week’s Tillage Edge podcast to chat about the harvest so far. James O’Reilly…