Country Life with MJ Clery every Wednesday from 7pm on Midlands 103. Keep up with everything agriculture and beyond.

On the programme this week MJ chats to Nicky Byrne from Teagasc about their recent Dairy Beef Calf Conference where margins of over €500 per acre were displayed from highly stocked early maturing steer systems using Aberdeen Angus calves. John Farrell from the Irish Grassland Association chats about their upcoming event entitled "Proud to be an Irish farmer and food producer". Stuart Rodgers a farmer from Co. Kildare who is presenting at the Bio Farm Conference 2024 chats about biodynamic farming and how this system of organic farming is undergoing a resurgence as farmers look to alternative farming methods. Joe Gorman from Garryhinch Wood Exotic Mushrooms chats about his business and their recent success at the National Organic Awards. The business which started growing traditional white mushrooms had to cease trading as a result of Brexit and have since completely changed their model to growing exotic organic mushrooms.

On the programme this week Aidan Brennan from the Irish Farmers Journal chats to MJ live from Washington DC where election fever is really starting to ramp up with Donald Trump edging the polls at the moment. Seamus McMenamin from Bord Bia chats about the sheep trade where demand is strong currently. He also chats about how one third of sheep farmers are not quality assured and this is having an impact when Bord Bia are selling lamb abroad as European consumers have extremely high standards when purchasing meat. Tom Cushen from Co. Laois is a cancer survivor and he speaks about upcoming free health checks being offered by the IFA around the country. Tom advocates the importance of regular health checks. Michael O Donovan from Teagasc speaks about the Grassland Climate Adaptation Conference where one of the topics of conversation was that our temperature and the amount of rainfall we receive has increased in the last number of decades.

Country Life with MJ Cleary Wednesday October 9th 2024

On the programme this week MJ chats to Marty Murphy from IFAC about Budget 2025 and what it will mean for farmers. With more money being given to most sectors it's predominantly good news but IFAC are concerned about the "active farmer" test and what it will mean for farmers in nursing homes who plan to pass land over to the next generation. Tim Ashmore Principal of Kildalton College chats about their upcoming open day for students which will include a demonstration of their bovine simulator which allows students to gain real world experience when studying. Brian Nicholson a sheep farmer from Co. Kilkenny and Aidan Maguire a beef farmer from Co. Meath chat about the awards they picked up at the FBD/Teagasc Enviornmental Sustainability Awards which were held in Portlaoise this week. Joe Burke from Bord Bia chats about upcoming changes to the Quality Assurance Scheme. He speaks about how the scheme needs to be updated to keep pace with the everchanging global food market and the desires of consumers.

On the programme this week Sarah McIntosh from the Irish Farmers Journal chats to MJ about the announcement at last weeks National Ploughing Championships that two new vet schools are to be opened in Ireland which will add 80 vet places for third level students. Mike Brady from the Brady Group chats about how farmers need to be more cognisant of their carbon footprint and how policy needs to change to pay farmers properly to ensure that environmental schemes with the aim of lowering GHGs do not lessen income for farmers. Alison Duncan from Fleming Agri Products, David Rice from David Rice Engineering, Teres Malanaphy from M TEC and Desmond Savage from Moonsyst speak about their respective agri businesses live from the National Ploughing Championships.

Countrylife is brought to you live from the National Ploughing Championships this week in Ratheniska Co. Laois this week where Minister Charlie McConalogue joins MJ to chat about the Vet Medicines Regulations where the Minister defends the change in legislation even though smaller merchants may well be forced to close as a result of the loss of dosing products from their shelves. Fertiliser usage on farms, anaerobic digestion and payments for rearing dairy calves are other topics up for discussion.

On the programme this week MJ chats to Adam Woods from the Irish Farmers Journal about the cattle trade and how live exports are really underpinning the current strong market demand. Martin O Reilly from Co. Laois chats about his recent achievements at the FBD Young Farmer Awards for dairying and biodiversity. Áine Regan from Teagasc speaks about new research where Teagasc are looking for farmers to take part in a survey on animal health. Oliver Guirke from the Fore Distillery in Co. Westmeath speaks about his business and the distilling process for Poitín where he uses grain as opposed to potatoes.

Country Life with MJ Clery

On the programme this week MJ chats to Teresa Roche from the Family Farm Committe where they are lobbying for a retirement scheme to encourage next generation transfer in agriculture. Declan Hanrahan Livestock Chair from the IFA chats about the beef trade and how details are needed on the in person SCEP training courses that were announced earlier this year by the Minister for Agriculture. Fiona O Malley from Turn2Me chats about mental health and how having a dog in your life can really help people who are finding things difficult. Sarah McIntosh from the Irish Farmers Journal speaks about the first round Leaving Cert offers which have just been issued. Sarah chats about what to do if you have received your offer and what to do if things have not gone to plan.