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 to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

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 podcast go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

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/

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

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 birds.

For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

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 to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

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 information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

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 to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

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 and for more details: 

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/national-events/events/crops-open-day.php   

For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

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 Edge podcast go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

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 the US are only slightly behind the seasonal average.

For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com