Podcasts · Government

The Dairy Edge

Teagasc

300 episodes

The Dairy Edge is Teagasc’s dairy podcast for farmers with the latest information, insights and opinion to improve your dairy farm performance.

More about the show

Visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

Episodes page 1 of 6

  1. Best Practice when Drying Off - A Practical Guide

    · 28 min

    As we come towards the end of the lactation, getting the drying-off process right is important to ensure good udder health and set cows up correctly for the next lactation. This week, James Dunne is joined by Padraig…

  2. Your Weekly Grass10 Update

    · 10 min

    For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher highlights the top actions that need to be done, including: • Prioritise grazing residuals • Update autumn grass budget • Prepare for changing weather…

  3. Winter Feeding Efficiency with Martina Gormley

    · 23 min

    Martina Gormley, dairy specialist in Athenry, Co. Galway, joins Stuart Childs to discuss a survey on winter feeding practices that she completed with a number of farmers across the country over the winter period…

  4. National Farm Survey 2025: The Irish Dairy Figures Explained

    · 33 min

    Teagasc economist, Trevor Donnellan, joins James Dunne to discuss the latest National Farm Survey results for 2025, focusing on the Irish dairy enterprise. Trevor explains why Teagasc conducts the National Farm…

  5. Your Weekly Grass10 Update

    · 14 min

    For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher highlights the top actions that need to be done, including: • Prioritise grazing residuals • Update autumn grass budget • Apply lime while ground…

  6. Your Weekly Grass10 Update

    · 12 min

    For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher highlights the top actions that need to be done, including: • Prioritising grazing residuals as we head into the final rotation • Farms should begin the…

  7. Last Rotation: Setting Up for the Spring

    · 18 min

    As we head into the final grazing rotation of the year, there’s plenty for farmers to be thinking about in terms of grazing the final round - the grass budget, closing paddocks and getting the farm set up correctly for…

  8. September Evaluation Update & the COW Index with Margaret Kelleher, ICBF

    · 33 min

    Dr. Margaret Kelleher, Genetics Operation Manager at ICBF, joins Stuart Childs to discuss the most recent update in September and to learn more about the COW index that farmers should be using more in their herd to…

  9. Your Weekly Grass10 Update

    · 10 min

    For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher highlights the top actions that need to be done, including: • Prioritise grazing residuals • Monitor growth rates and update grass budget Read more from…

  10. Your Weekly Grass10 Update

    · 12 min

    For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher highlights the top actions that need to be done, including: • Assess farm cover and growth rates • Do grass budget to plan supplementation • Make the best…

  11. Managing cashflow: what dairy farmers need to consider

    · 31 min

    Cash flow is always an important part of running a dairy farm, but in a year like 2026, keeping a close eye on the money coming in and going out has become even more important. While milk price remains behind the…

  12. Your Weekly Grass10 Update

    · 8:47

    For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher highlights the top actions that need to be done: • Set a 35 day rotation length • Do grass budget - phase out silage supplementation • Make the best use of…

  13. Countrywide update with Joint Programme Advisors, John McCabe, Seamus Kearney & Sean Callan

    · 31 min

    John McCabe, Seamus Kearney and Sean Callan, Advisors on the Teagasc Aurivo, Teagasc Tirlán and Teagasc Lakeland joint programmes, join Stuart Childs to give a more countrywide feel for the situation on farms around…

  14. Your Weekly Grass10 Update

    · 11 min

    For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher highlights the top actions to be done: • Set a 35 day rotation length • Do a grass budget to reduce supplementation • Consider liming Read more from this…

  15. Back to Grass: Managing Dairy Cow Nutrition After the Drought

    · 17 min

    Teagasc ruminant nutritionist, Aisling Claffey, joins James Dunne to discuss managing dairy cow nutrition as we move out of the drought conditions. With many cows having been fed increased levels of silage and…

  16. Your Weekly Grass10 Update

    · 14 min

    For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher highlights the top actions to be done for this week: • Set a 30-35 day rotation length • Make a farm specific fertiliser/slurry plan • Do a fodder…

  17. Fertiliser Advice for September

    · 33 min

    Dr. David Wall, Enterprise Leader of the farms and estate at Teagasc’s Environment Research Centre in Johnstown Castle, joins Stuart Childs to discuss the timing of fertiliser applications over the coming weeks to…

  18. Your Weekly Grass10 Update

    · 16 min

    For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher highlights the top actions to be done for this week: • Do a fodder available budget • If fodder reserves are below target, take action • Assess paddocks…

  19. Joe Patton on dealing with the feed & fodder situation

    · 36 min

    Joe Patton, Head of the Teagasc Dairy Knowledge Transfer programme, joins James Dunne with an update on the current situation on dairy farms across the country following the prolonged period of dry weather. Joe…

  20. Your Weekly Grass10 Update

    · 14 min

    For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher explains that: • All farms should complete a fodder available budget • An action plan needs to be developed where fodder reserves are below target • Farms…

  21. Staying on top of milk quality

    · 21 min

    Raymond Ryan, Milk Quality Advisor for the Limerick and Clare regions with Dairygold, joins Stuart Childs to discuss staying on top of milk quality. Raymond explains that milk quality in 2026 is generally holding up,…

  22. Your Weekly Grass10 Update

    · 10 min

    For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses: • Doing a fodder available budget for your farm • Assessing weed burden in recent reseeds • Temperatures increasing again - water supply…

  23. Trying to get time off - help others to help you

    · 27 min

    Eoghan Byrne, project manager in FRS farm services, and MTU Agriculture student, Cormac Harnett, who works as an operator with the FRS in Cork joins Stuart Childs to discuss how farmers can help themselves get a bit of…

  24. Your Weekly Grass10 Update

    · 11 min

    For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses: • Establishing recovery on paddocks • Caution with fertiliser application • Assessing fodder available on farm Read more from this week’s…

  25. Advisory Update: What's happening on the ground?

    · 16 min

    Emily Gowing, Teagasc Dairy Advisor based in Dungarvan, Co Waterford, joins James Dunne for an update on the current situation on farms in her catchment and she has some key pieces of advice for farmers over the coming…

  26. Your Weekly Grass10 Update

    · 13 min

    For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses: • The need to walk the farm to assess grass growth and supply on farm • Reducing demand on farm • Caution with fertiliser And the featured farm…

  27. Managing stock in drought or near drought conditions

    · 24 min

    Colman Purcell, Nutritionist with Dairygold Agri Business, joins Stuart Childs to discuss managing stock in drought or near drought conditions. Colman praises the farmers in the Dairygold catchment who have been…

  28. Your Weekly Grass10 Update

    · 31 min

    For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses: • Assessing grass supply on farm • Reducing demand on farm • Nutrient application during reduced growth • Water supply And the featured farm…

  29. Dairy Calf to Beef – What Does the Future Hold?

    · 31 min

    Pádraig French from Teagasc, who is closely involved in dairy-beef research, including the Ballyvadin Calf-to-Beef Demonstration Farm, joins James Dunne on this week’s Dairy Edge. They discuss the key management…

  30. Your Weekly Grass10 Update

    · 16 min

    For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses: • Managing reduced growth • Making a grazing plan for the coming 10 days (no rain forecast) • How can farms reduce demand? Plus the featured…

  31. Managing Fertiliser Decisions in Dry Conditions

    · 25 min

    John O’Loughlin, Head of Sustainability at Grassland Agro, joins Stuart Childs to discuss the impact of CBAM, fertiliser advice in dry conditions and two upcoming farm walks that will be worth attending this July.…

  32. Your Weekly Grass10 Update

    · 16 min

    For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses: - Managing reduced growth - Walk the farm - 2nd cut silage - Infrastructure Month Plus the featured farm update comes from Tommie Devine,…

  33. From Relief Milker to Dairy Farmer: Cian Jobe's Journey into Dairy Farming

    · 43 min

    Longford dairy farmer, Cian Jobe’s journey into dairy farming is one that's likely to resonate with many young people interested in the industry. Growing up on a suckler farm, he developed a passion for dairying…

  34. Your Weekly Grass10 Update

    · 9:49

    For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses: - Mid-season management - Managing 2nd cut - Establish fertiliser spread year to date Plus the featured farm update comes from the…

  35. Award-Winning Dairy Farming with Tom and Michael Ryan

    · 15 min

    Tom and Michael Ryan, winners of the NDC and Kerrygold Quality Milk Award for 2025, join Stuart Childs on the day of their farm walk following their win. Tom gives a bit of background to the their farm and how they…

  36. Your Weekly Grass10 Update

    · 9:12

    For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses: - mid-season management - red clover silage and managing 2nd cut silage - spraying and grazing reseeds - establishing fertiliser spread year…

  37. Low Nitrogen Dairy Farming: The Role of White Clover

    · 15 min

    With increasing pressure on dairy farms to reduce nitrogen inputs whilst maintaining profitability, technologies such as white clover are attracting renewed interest. But how well does clover perform on heavier type…

  38. Your Weekly Grass10 Update

    · 12 min

    For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher says concentrate input should be reduced on farms where grass supply is adequate (cover/LU >160 kg DM/LU). A third of farms are over target and have a…

  39. Next Gen 2 and Kilworth Farm Update

    · 34 min

    Ricki Fitzgerald, Farm Manager of the Teagasc Moorepark Kilworth Farm, and Brian McCarthy, Researcher in Teagasc Moorepark, join Stuart Childs with a run down on how the year has gone so far on the Kilworth Farm and to…

  40. Your Weekly Grass10 Update

    · 9:28

    For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher explains that June is a challenging month for grass quality as we are now in the main heading phase for perennial ryegrass. Pre grazing yield is too high…

  41. Breeding 2026: the need for a strong finish

    · 24 min

    With breeding season reaching the midpoint on many spring-calving dairy farms, we're taking stock of how the season has progressed so far and discussing the key management decisions for the weeks ahead. Doreen…

  42. Your Weekly Grass10 Update

    · 14 min

    For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses tackling surplus grass and why flexibility is required to take out surplus bales. Plus he explains how grazed grass delivers the lowest feed…

  43. Why Grazed Grass Still Wins on Feed Costs

    · 31 min

    With the increased cost of fuel and fertiliser, Peter Doyle, Grassland Researcher in Teagasc, Grange, joins Stuart Childs to discuss the cost of growing grass, silage and other feeds. Peter outlines the costs that he…

  44. Your Weekly Grass10 Update

    · 9:49

    For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher explains that the challenge on farm now will be keeping the right grass in front of the animals. Swards of low or no stem will maximise animal performance…

  45. Securing the Future of Irish Dairying: Succession, Progression & Collaborative Farming

    · 28 min

    This week we’re discussing generational renewal in Irish dairying and the challenges facing farmers young farmers trying to enter and progress within the sector while also discussing what options are available to…

  46. Your Weekly Grass10 Update

    · 11 min

    For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher discusses the impact of pre-grazing yield on protein, plus how to correct pre-grazing yield on farm. Meanwhile, the featured farmer is John Phelan from…

  47. Claire Mooney on Water Quality Tips

    · 21 min

    Claire Mooney, Catchment Coordinator for the Suir, joins Stuart Childs to discuss practical tips for farmers in relation to improving water quality. Claire first explains immediate on-farm actions to improve…

  48. Your Weekly Grass10 Update

    · 11 min

    For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher says that the majority of farms are grazing covers too high. As we move further into May, grass composition is changing and keeping grass quality correct…

  49. Your Weekly Grass10 Update

    · 11 min

    For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, John Maher explains why the target for pre-grazing yield in the mid-season is 1300-1400 kg DM/ha. John also discusses first cut silage and taking surplus bales to be…

  50. Grass to Cash: Driving profit through better grazing

    · 47 min

    Mick O’Donovan, Head of the Grassland Science Department in Moorepark, and Joe Patton, Head of Dairy KT, join James Dunne to discuss how farmers can maximise margin in the months ahead, focusing on the key grazing…

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