Irish Farmers Journal podcasts

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Irish Country Living’s education editor Mary Phelan talks Leaving Cert preparation, what to bring into exams with you and how you can get answers to your questions from the experts the night before exams. Expert teachers from a private grind school, Hewitt College will be available to speak to on farmersjournal.ie every evening between 7pm and 8pm, starting next Tuesday, the night before English paper 1. The teachers are experts in their fields and can answer all your questions live. The Leaving Cert Q&A is available in this week’s Irish Country Living, on sale Thursday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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The Balmoral Show is in full swing with exhibitors and visitors from Northern Ireland and beyond enjoying fine weather on the first day of the show. My colleague Anthony Jordan takes us to some of the most popular tents to meet show-goers and exhibitors.Anthony Jordan speaks to new Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitzgerald about rural crime and the deployment of more Garda personnel.Delivering the annual Gibson lecture at Queens University Belfast, European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan has painted a bleak picture of what would happen to Ireland if the UK leaves the EU.Irish Farmers Journal Northern Ireland editor David Wright met Jay Waldvogel from the leading US co-op Dairy Farmers of America at the dairy volatility conference held in Lisburn last week. Increasing anti-microbial resistancemeans that farmers will not be able to use antibiotics as freely in the future. My colleague Odile Evans talked to dairy farmer and chairman of Animal Health Ireland, Mike Magan about the trial he ran on his own farm in Co Longford, using less antibiotics to dry off cows.News correspondent Odile Evans met OPW Chair Clare McGrath at last week's meeting of the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group and asked her about the concerns of recently flooded farmers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After 18 months of crisis, Co Cavan pig farmer Frank Brady is weeks away from having to close down his farm. He spoke with Irish Farmers Journal news editor Patrick Donohoe.On Tuesday, Phelim O'Neill met economist Dr Siemen Van Berkum from Wageningen University in The Netherlands at a European Parliament discussion panel on the trade imbalance between the EU and Mercosur countries.Macra na Feirme is holding its AGM this Saturday, with president Sean Finan now mid-way through his two-year term. Irish Farmers Journal journalist Amy Fitzgibbons asked him about the challenges facing young farmers and the organisation itself under his tenure.Micheál O’Leary from Teagasc Moorepark told the recent Irish Grassland Association's beef conference that while most farmers are good at measuring grass growth, they must get better when it comes to making critical decisions. He answers William Conlon's questions.The event’s overseas guest speaker was Welsh suckler and sheep farmer Glasnant Morgan. He told William Conlon about his experience mentoring young farmers.Aine Hennessy meets two farmers whose work and life have changed since Concern Worldwide rolled out an irrigation project in Duguna Fango, Ethiopia.Irish Farmers Journal northern editor David Wright interviews Barclay Bell, the Ulster Farmers Union's newly elected president.Judges from the UK's Great Taste awards visited Cashel last week to sample hundreds of Irish products. There, Irish Country Living editor Mairead Lavery met butcher Pat Whelan of the Tipperary Food Producers Network and Great Taste judge John Farrand of the Guild of Fine Food. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Healy gave his inaugural address in front of the IFA's AGM this Wednesday. Listen to some highlights from his speech.Irish Farmers Journal news correspondent Pat O’Toole attended the second sale of animals from the Cradenhill herd in Co Cork on Monday. He told the Irish Farmers Journal’s digital editor Thomas Hubert what he saw as the auctioneer dispersed the herd on behalf of the sheriff and the bank, ACC Loan Management.Irish Farmers Journal markets specialist Phelim O’Neill joined Phil Hogan on his recent tour China and Japan. He asked the European Agriculture Commissioner what he had achieved during the visit, and what farmers could expect from wider trade discussions. Irish Farmers Journal agribusiness editor Eoin Lowry interviews Helen King, director of consumer insights with Bord Bia, while on a trip to Iran.The Health and Safety Authority recognised the role of children in the campaign for farm safety with a dedicated awards ceremony for multimedia school projects on this issue this Wednesday. Amy McShane was there and she met the overall winner, Shane Farrelly from Bailieborough Community School in Co Cavan.Odile Evans continues her series on locally-led agri environmental schemes and visits the Blackstairs mountains in this week's Irish Farmers Journal. There, she met three members of the Blackstairs farming group who are putting the scheme together: coordinator Helena Fitzgerald, chairman Martin Shannon and vice-chairman Tomás McCarthy.While the new Dáil is dithering about the formation of a government, a man in Co Tipperary has decided to form a new political party to bring attention to rural issues. Reporter Anthony Jordan met Andrew O’Halloran at the first meeting of the Community Party.Finally, if you were among the 100,000 people who rushed to get health insurance to beat the Lifetime Community Rating charge just one year ago, your policy is up for renewal. Consumer editor Ciara Leahy has advice on the process in this week’s Irish Country Living and she tells Mary Phelan what you should look out for in your health insurance package. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Five months after pay scandals rocked the IFA, the association has a new president. For his first interview in his new job, Joe Healy spoke with Irish Farmers Journal news correspondent Pat O'Toole.Meanwhile, news editor Patrick Donohoe sat down with the IFA's new deputy president, Richard Kennedy.Irish Farmers Journal dairy specialist Aidan Brennan analysed the performance of Charles Clarke, the host f the latest Dairylink farm walk. Charles then answered dairy editor Jack Kennedy's questions. Liam O'Keeffe, chairman of Irish Farmers with Designated Land (IFDL), is involved in a new locally-led agri-environmental scheme for areas affected by hen harrier conservation restrictions. He spoke with news correspondent Odile Evans.Careers editor Mary Phelan talks to Áine Hennessy about the upcoming job opportunities in the Department of Agriculture. Since a devastating earthquake on 24 April 2015, local people have struggled to rebuild their homes and their farms. Aisling Hussey meets local journalist Pitambar Sigdel and farmer Saralta Tuladhar.Aisling travelled to Nepal with support from the Simon Cumbers Media Fund. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Members of the IFA are voting to elect their new president and the three candidates took part in the Irish Farmers Journal's live broadcast debate on Friday night. Editor Justin McCarthy asked them about their plan to address shrinking farm incomes, their thoughts on the number of marts in the country and their priority to reform the IFA.As the formation of a new government drags on, reporter Anthony Jordan asked Fine Gael TD for Kildare South Martin Heydon and Lisa Chambers, Finna Fáil TD for Mayo, about their parties' priorities for rural crime and broadband. David Hennelly is an ambulance crew member and he spoke with our news correspondent Odile Evans, who reports on the work of paramedics in farm accidents in this week’s Irish Farmers Journal.Prevention is better than cure, though, and farming students get a solid grounding in farm safety nowadays. Second year ag science students in UCD were doing their farm safety practicals last Friday and Anthony Jordan talked to the experts who prepare them for the dangers of farming life.Meanwhile, markets specialist Phelim O’Neill was in Norway this week. The country is not part of the European Union and the Norwegians have their own way of managing agriculture, as Hildegunn Gjengedal of the Norwegian Farmers Union explains.In Kerry, one of the first locally led agri-environmental schemes is working with farmers to save a precious local species of freshwater mussel. Odile Evans found out more with Karen O’Neill, one of the scientists working on the project – and from a Kerry farm herself.Consumer editor Ciara Leahy explains how credit cards costs add up and why you should shop around in this week’s Irish Country Living. She shares some tips with Mary Phelan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anthony Jordan speaks to Aoife Osborne (lecturer for farm health and safety at UCD), John McNamara (health and safety officer at Teagasc), Dermot Ruan (professional work experience co-ordinator at UCD) and Arthur Byrne (public safety manager at ESB Networks) about the importance of teaching agricultural science students about health and safety on the farm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The two-month marathon of IFA election hustings concluded in Offaly on Tuesday night. Here are the closing arguments of the three presidential candidates: Joe Healy, Flor McCarthy and Henry Burns.This weeks marks one year since the abolition of milk quotas. Two Irish dairy farmers reflect on the past 12 months from very different parts of the world: Philip Ruttle farms in Co Limerick and Olin Greenan in New Zealand. China is among the factors in the current milk price slump. But what is happening inside that country’s dairy industry? The Irish Farmers Journal's Digital editor Thomas Hubert met Kevin She Baoqing, a Chinese dairy planner, at this month’s Nuffield contemporary scholars conference in Cavan.On Tuesday, anti-eviction activists protested outside the offices of a law firm involved in the case of a repossessed farmer who committed suicide last week. Odile Evans was there and she spoke with New Land League spokesperson Jerry Beades. TDs Willie Penrose and Michael Healy-Rae have advocated for a full minister to be in charge of rural affairs as talks continue to form a government. Anthony Jordan met them in Leinster House. The European Parliament is the latest institution opposing the renewal of the license to sell glyphosate, the main ingredient in total herbicides such as Roundup. Thomas Hubert and tillage editor Andy Doyle have more details.There is a detailed survey on the health of farming women in this week's Irish Country Living, and the good news is that they are much better at looking after their health than farming men. There are some areas of concern, though, as health correspondent Margaret Hawkins explained to Mary Phelan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With low prices for many farmers and some banks moving to sell off their riskier loans, the Irish Farmers Journal is providing continuing coverage of the financial situation across the industry.Digital editor Thomas Hubert sat down with agribusiness editor Eoin Lowry and farm finance specialist Peter Young for a financial health check of agriculture before the busiest part of the year really kicks off. Bad news for young people getting ready to start farming: it is now clear that virtually no funding is available for the National Reserve this year. News correspondent Odile Evans has the story in this week’s Irish Farmers Journal, and she got more details from Macra na Feirme’s agricultural affairs manager Derrie Dillon. Last weekend marked 20 years since BSE turned into the international health crisis that brought the beef industry to its knees. In Tipperary, Thomas Hubert met Mary and John Breen, two farmers who have moved on from the shock of depopulation two decades ago. The Irish Farmers Journal continues to explore locally-led agri-environmental schemes this week, looking at the pioneering work of the Burren’s farmers under this new system. News correspondent Odile Evans met one of them, Michael John Moroney. The Balmoral Show is the largest agricultural event in Northern Ireland and it will take place between 11-13 May this year. Northern Ireland correspondent Peter McCann met Rhonda Geary, operations manager with the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society. Finally, Isabel Hurley and Ciara Healy present the 28-page sport horse breeding supplement included in this week’s Irish Country Living. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Irish Farmers Journal editor Jack Kennedy was in Brussels when the Council of EU agriculture ministers met to address the crisis in farmgate prices. He met the minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, and asked him for his views on the measures decided on Monday.Meanwhile, Belgian farmers were protesting outside the building. Despite the disruption to the streets blocked by tractors, a Brussels woman told our reporter Amy Fitzgibbon that she supported the farmers.Some of the measures agreed on Monday aim to support exports. One example of recent efforts to access new markets is the opening of a factory in Saudi Arabia by Al Wazeen, a subsidiary of Ornua that makes local cheese from Irish milk powder. The Irish Farmers Journal’s agribusiness editor, Eoin Lowry, was there.New export markets are a hot topic for the beef industry, too. The chief executive of Dawn Meats, Niall Browne, was at the UCD ag debate last week and Anthony Jordan spoke with him about progress in the US and China as well as weight limits for cattle here.Trade with the US is fraught with a lot of hard questions: what will happen with the proposed TTIP trade agreement? What about genetically modified food and hormone-fed beef? For an American view on these questions, Irish Farmers Journal news correspondent Odile Evans met Ed Kee, the agricultural secretary of the US state of Delaware.With pig farmers facing a price crisis, Odile Evans met Dutch pig farmer Ruben Van Boekl and asked him about the situation in his country. A Nuffield scholar, Van Boekl is studying ways of adding value on farm in the pig sector. A series of articles on locally-led agri-environmental schemes begins this week in the Irish Farmers Journal. They provide funding for groups of farmers to organise and protect natural habitats, and the Burren has pioneered the system. Odile Evans spoke with Sharon Parr, a scientist working on the project.Margaret Hawkins wrote an article in this week’s Irish Country Living after visiting the WW1 battlefields in France and Belgium. Dermot Curran works as a guide on the historic sites and he told her how the fighting of 100 years ago still affects the work of farmers today. The Rose of Tralee, Elysha Brennan, is on the cover of Irish Country Living this week. She has a word of advice for anyone interested in taking part in the festival, in conversation with features editor Maria Moynihan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Glanbia Ingredients Ireland's director of strategy Seán Molloy and Billy Kane from Finance Ireland Group answer Irish Farmers Journal agri-business editor Eoin Lowry's questions on the new Milkflex loans for dairy farmers. Marcelo Queiroz is a Brazilian beef farmer attending this week's Nuffield contemporary scholar conference in Cavan. He told digital editor Thomas Hubert about his 5,000ha home farm. Tillage farmer Kevin Nolan spoke at the recent conference on information and communication technology in agriculture organised by Teagasc. He told the Irish Farmers Journal's Peter Young what this means on his farm. Farm finance specialist Peter Young met US strategic thinker Dr Banning Garrett and UK Trade and Investment's chief executive for agriculture and technology Prof Janet Bainbridge at Tuesday's Foresight 2035 conference on Tuesday to discuss the technologies that will change Irish farming. The IFA organised a protest against below-cost selling at Aldi and Lidl in Dublin on Monday. News correspondent Odile Evans spoke with one of the farmers taking part, Joe Jones. Motoring and vintage editor Michael Moroney speaks with Teagasc director Prof Gerry Boyle at the launch of the agency's Farming and Rural Life 1916 commemoration event. And Joe Lenehan speaks to former Irish rugby player John Hayes ahead of this weekend's RBS 6 Nations game against Italy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An independent report commissioned by the IFA shows that EU policy protects the fertiliser industry from competition and costs European farmers €1bn per year in inflated prices. Irish Farmers Journal news correspondent Paul Mooney was in Brussels for the launch of the reports and has all the details.Nearly one week on from the general election, it remains unclear how a government can be formed. Patrick Donohoe, Pat O'Toole and Aisling Hussey discuss the implications of last Friday's vote and the role of independent TDs in rural areas.On a visit to Northern Ireland farms this week, British Prime Minister David Cameron told Irish Farmers Journal NI editor David Wright why he thinks UK farmers should vote to stay in the EU.Co Clare farmer Pat Sweeney grazes his cattle on top of the Cliffs of Moher. He tells Irish Farmers Jews correspondent Odile Evans about his experience of exiting dairying and diversifying into tourism - and surviving biblical storms.Peter Young met Teagasc director Gerry Boyle at the ICT in Agriculture seminar at the Aviva Stadium and asked him who owns the data farmers generate through increased computerisation. Comedian Colm O'Regan, author of the Irish Mammy's column in Irish Country Living, features on the cover of the supplement's Mothers' Day edition. He answers Aisling Hussey's questions on parenthood and growing up on a farm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At Saturday’s 'Stop the Flooding' Rally in Athlone, Irish Farmers Journal reporter Aine Hennessy spoke with farmers who have been badly affected by the recent flooding of the river Shannon. There, she also met IFA flood project chair Tom Turley and the three IFA presidential candidates Henry Burns, Joe Healy and Flor McCarthy.Markets specialist Phelim O'Neill discusses the consequences of a potential UK exit from the European Union for Irish farmers north and south of the border with digital editor Thomas Hubert.With two days to go to the general election, Irish Farmers Journal reporter Odile Evans caught up with independent candidate and farmer Michael Fitzmaurice TD at Ballinasloe mart.Patrick Donohoe and Pat O'Toole of the Irish Farmers Journal news desk discuss farmers' opinions on controversial levies, the IFA president's pay and the full-time farming requirement for the position, based on the findings of an exclusive RedC poll.Kenneth O'Brien, head of the 'Forgotten Farmer' group, speaks with farm finance specialist Peter Young at a meeting called to examine the situation of young farmers who fell through the cracks of support schemes.At the national potato conference, Amy Fitzgibbon speaks with Cliona Lynch of Kantar Worldpanel and Lorcan Bourke, potato sector manager with Bord Bia, about the state of Ireland's domestic potato market and ideas to boost consumption.At Gulfood 2016 in Dubai, Eoin Lowry meets Ornua's marketing director for the Middle East, Kevin Friel, about the new market opportunities for Irish dairy. He also speaks with John Spicer, ingredients sales manager for the Middle East, about the type of ingredients these new markets are demanding.Ciara Leahy talks to careers editor Mary Phelan about employment opportunities at the Irish Farmers Journal and open eir Agri Careers Fair in the RDS on 3 March.And ahead of this weekend's 6 Nations clash, former Irish rugby international John Hayes writes about his experience of playing the English in this week's Irish Country Living. He shares his memories with Joe Lenehan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's podcast, Patrick Donohoe and Pat O'Toole of the Irish Farmers Journal news desk discuss the results of a poll of 1,000 farmers ahead of next week's general election. On the campaign trail, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin answered Patrick Donohoe's question on the party's commitment to a €200/cow suckler premium. Co Meath farmer Michael Garrigan only went to bed for a couple of hours last Friday night, but that was enough for thieves to break into his house and steal his car keys. He told his story to digital editor Thomas Hubert. South Dublin County Council this week refused to install grids on local roads to manage animal movements on commonages. News correspondent Odile Evans speaks with local farmer Donie Anderson. Suckler farmer and Irish Farmers Journal contributor Tommy Moyles is featured in this week's Irish Country Living for his participation in a play staged by an award-winning drama group - all in the middle of calving season. Aisling Hussey visited him in Co Cork. Finally, Irish Country Living editor Mairead Lavery speaks with Colin Crosbie, former curator of the RHS Garden at Wisley and he was also head gardener for the Queen Mother. His has advice on how to create a late spring tiered garden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Public debates between candidates for IFA president and deputy president began on Monday. We bring you extracts from the debate, farmers' reactions and analysis by Irish Farmers Journal news editor Patrick Donohoe and news correspondent Pat O'Toole. On the general election campaign trail, news journalist Odile Evans spoke with Labour party leader and Tánaiste Joan Burton as she visited the food processing company Country Crest in Co Dublin this Monday.She also recorded Sinn Féin's Mayo county councillor Rose Conway-Walsh as she spelled out her party's farming and rural life manifesto. As dairy commodity markets show no sign of recovery, dairy editor Jack Kennedy met the former editor of Kerry Group, Denis Brosnan and asked him for his outlook for the sector. On the beef side, Phelim O'Neill spoke with Debbie Boucher of AHDB Beef And Lamb on the prospects in the UK market at her organisation's meat outlook conference in London. There, he also asked Professor Alan Matthews from Trinity College about the implications of a Brexit scenario for farmers in Britain and Ireland. Rugby legend John Hayes contributes to Irish Country Living during the Six Nations. In conversation with Joe Lenehan, he reflects on the career of his former teammate Paul O’Connell, who retired from play this week. Some subscribers to Virgin’s pay TV service have received notice that the company will not keep them as customers. Irish Country Living consumer editor Ciara Leahey and editor Mairead Lavery have more details. Finally, Mairead Lavery met garden historian Jennifer Harmer at the recent snowdrop gala, and she tells us more about the best loved flower of the season. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charles Chavasse, a vet with the animal health company Zoetis, spoke about best practices to keep new arrivals healthy in a cattle herd at the recent beef finishing masterclass at Lisbeg Farms, Eyrecourt, Co Galway.Also speaking at the event was Joe Burke, who is charge of the beef sector at Bord Bia. Irish Farmers Journal digital editor Thomas Hubert asked him for his view of the market this coming year, and how farmers should prepare for it - from prices to specifications. The upcoming British referendum on EU membership presents the prospect of a Brexit scenario. Northern Ireland’s Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill told Irish Farmers Journal Northern Ireland editor David Wright about the risks this poses for agriculture in Ireland north and south. Also in Northern Ireland, figures released in the past few days show that farm incomes in the region have suffered a dramatic 41% fall in the past year. David Wright met Alan Irwin, a dairy farmer at the heart of this crisis. Energy generation is often presented as an alternative way of making money, and it was discussed at two conferences this past week – one on bioenergy, and another one on solar power, where Irish Farmers Journal news journalist Odile Evans spoke with Michael Quirk, the chairman of Energy Cork. The European scheme LEADER has funded hundreds of projects in rural Ireland over the years. Many organisations depending on it are coming up for renewal, and their managers are worried about government interference in the scheme. Irish Country Living editor Mairead Lavery met one of them: Declan Rice, CEO of Kilkenny LEADER Parternship.Irish Country living’s health correspondent Margaret Hawkins has an interview with a woman suffering from early onset dementia in this week’s edition. She told consumer Ciara Leahy about the signs that can help you detect the disease and the consequences it can have on people’s lives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's Irish Farmers Journal looks in detail at the recent evolution of fertiliser prices. Agribusiness editor Eoin Lowry and farm finance specialist Peter Young discuss how much cheaper various types of fertilisers have become and how farmers should plan their purchases for the season ahead. Northern Ireland correspondent Peter McCann was at the Young Farmers Club of Ulster’s conference at the weekend and he met Jonathan Birnie, the company’s head of agriculture, for an update on what factories expect from beef farmers. Teagasc advisor Grainne Hurley speaks with Irish Farmers Journal dairy specialist Aidan Brennan during the first of Teagasc's spring grass walks on the farm of Peter Hynes near Bandon in Co Cork. Irish Farmers Journal reporter Odile Evans met beef exporter Dorene Mallon at the Lismullin agriculture seminar and asked her about the importance of branding Irish beef for export markets. We are just a few weeks away from the first agri careers fair organised by the Irish Farmers Journal and open eir on the 3rd of March. Irish Country Living careers editor Mary Phelan knows all about the plans for the event; she answered questions from consumer editor Ciara Leahy. Finally, this week's Irish Country Living offers information and advice for people suffering of tinnitus, this annoying buzzing in your ears. Health correspondent Margaret Hawkins tells us more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All three candidates for IFA president are interviewed in this week's Irish Farmers Journal. Pat O’Toole spoke with Henry Burns, Paul Mooney interviewed Joe Healy and Patrick Donohoe met Flor McCarthy.Last week, livestock specialist Peter Varley was in Bristol for the Global Farm Platform conference and he met Graeme Martin, from the University of Western Australia. They talked about rotational grazing in a dry environment and controlling parasites in sheep the Australian way.For the past two years, Macra has also been providing a land mobility service to bring together farmers interested in arrangements such as long-term leases, partnerships or share-farming. The service's manager, Austin Finn, spoke with Irish Farmers Journal digital editor Thomas Hubert.Finally, you may feel dizzy at times, or about to lose your balance. Irish Country Living health correspondent Margaret Hawkins has the latest on diagnostics and treatments for such vestibular disorders and she spoke with features editor Maria Moynihan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Irish Farmers Journal news editor met minister for agriculture, Simon Coveney, for his last interview before the general election, to be published in this week’s edition and at www.farmersjournal.ie. He asked him about the challenges he faced in the past five years, late farm payments and progress at the beef forum.Bord Bia has released its report on Irish food exports for 2015, showing 3% growth to a record €10.8bn. The agency is also to open new offices in Singapore and Warsaw. Chief executive Aidan Cotter answers digital editor Thomas Hubert's questions. Kevin Grier of Market Analysis and Consulting Inc. told news journalist Odile Evans that exporting beef to America may not be as straightforward as it seems.Northern Ireland correspondent Peter McCann met Paul Temple, chair of cereals and oilseed at the UK Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, to get his views on the evolution of grain prices and profitability on tillage farms. Carbon emissions are becoming increasingly important in the way consumers choose their food, and livestock farming has a bad reputation in this area. But Dr John Hyland of Teagasc told Odile Evans that shifting away from meat and dairy is not a solution for environmentally conscious consumers. Ciaran Lenehan talks improving relationships with factories, synchronising cattle and why a breeding focused agenda works for him. Online journalist Amy Fitzgibbon met Diana Bura and Maria Louise Fufezan from Balbriggan in Co Dublin, who won the top prize at the BT Young Scientist exhibition for researching enzymes in animal feed.And Irish Country Living consumer editor Ciara Leahey has advice to help you get your personal finances in order this new year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This New Year marks the opening of election season – not only at the IFA, but also for the general election expected early this spring.Renua was the first party to present their manifesto to voters this week and they had a number of proposals for farmers. Irish Farmers Journal news journalist Odile Evans met two of Renua’s candidates.News correspondent Pat O'Toole discusses the expectations of rural voters with news editor Patrick Donohoe.One of your New Year’s resolution may well be to draw up a health plan for your herd. Let’s listen in as Cork-based Irish Farmers Journal contributor Tommy Moyles goes through the exercise wit his vet. In this week’s Irish Farmers Journal, we also go through the HSA’s annual report on fatal accidents at work. While the numbers showed an improvement in 2015, 18 people still lost their lives on Irish farms.At the end of last year, the Irish Farmers Journal and ESB Networks launched the Safe Family Farms campaign to help change the mentality that allows so many tragedies to take place. We received support from Kildare tillage farmer Michael O’Brien, who survived an accident 40 years ago and told his story to digital editor Thomas Hubert.And Irish Country Living journalist Mary Phelan met Sarah Kinsella, one of the few women to develop their career in the greyhound industry. She tells consumer editor Ciara Leahy what she discovered when interviewing Sarah Kinsella for this week’s edition. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Irish Farmers Journal specialists discuss their highs and lows of 2015 and their expectations for 2016 in the dairy, tillage, beef and agribusiness sectors; and editor Justin McCarthy shares his outlook for Ireland's export markets and his plans for the Irish Farmers Journal in the coming year.News journalist Odile Evans reports on the expectations for the coming year in the beef sector in this week’s edition, and she interviewed Mattie Kelly, a 23-year-old suckler farmer in Dysart, Co Roscommon.The sweeping change initiated at the head of the IFA will extend well into the New Year, with a presidential election in the works and still a lot of uncertainty. Digital editor Thomas Hubert asked news correspondent Pat O’Toole to explain the latest developments in the crisis. Finally, Thomas Hubert meets the newest contributor to our Farmer Writes column, Kieran Sullivan. Kieran is a part-time sheep and forestry farmer in Co Waterford and has just begun to revive the family farm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's podcast, Irish Farmers Journal news correspondent Paul Mooney has the latest on government plans to extend the allowable period to cut hedges or burn vegetation on hills. He spoke with digital editor Thomas Hubert.There was a surprise announcement at the weekend that World Trade Organisation member states had agreed to scrap export subsidies. This is just one development in the fast-moving world of international trade agreements and Irish Farmers Journal markets specialist Phelim O’Neill discussed the latest news with digital editor Thomas Hubert. Christmas is all about children and one father who will definitely spend some time with his family this week is Irish Farmers Journal 'Farmer writes' contributor Ronan Delany. His farm is a busy enterprise with sheep, cattle and an agri-tourism business, but he told digital editor Thomas Hubert that the birth of his daughter has changed the way he farms.Irish Country Living journalist Aisling Hussey visited the Duhallow choir, a pillar of rural community in Kanturk, Co Cork, as they rehearsed Christmas carols earlier this month. The group is featured in this week's edition.And consumer editor Ciara Leahy has recipes to solve the eternal dilemma of Christmas dinner leftovers in this week’s edition. She shared a few tips from the Irish Countrywomen's Association's Book of Christmas with journalist Mary Phelan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The past week has seen catastrophic flooding around the country, and the river Shannon has been especially devastating to its neighbours. One of them is Shannonbridge dairy farmer John Claffey, the secretary of the Shannon Flood Committee in the IFA. He tells news journalist Odile Evans that lack of investment in the river's maintenance has made things worse. Now that the Paris climate summit is over, attention is turning to solutions in tackling climate change at home. Ireland is placing a lot of hope in expanding its forests, and digital editor Thomas Hubert sat down with forestry specialist Donal Magner to take a good look at the sector and the way it can develop alongside traditional farming.At the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society Winter Fair, Irish Farmers Journal Northern Ireland correspondent Peter McCann met Gabriel D'Arcy, chief executive of the newly merged LacPatrick dairy co-op, and asked him about the level of investment and the prospects in the industry. Finally, third-year student and beef farmer Sarah Armstrong received a bursary from the Irish Farmers Journal to travel to Sommet de l'Elevage, the main livestock show in France, this autumn. Editor Justin McCarthy caught up with her on her farm near Killashandra in Co Cavan after her trip. This interview was recorded by Louise Denvir of RTE Countrywide. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, the Irish Farmers Journal revealed plans by Larry Goodman’s ABP to buy a 50% stake in Slaney Foods, which also includes Irish Country Meats. News editor Patrick Donohoe asked markets specialist Phelim O’Neill what the proposed deal means for the industry – and for beef farmers. Odile Evans has a detailed report in this week’s Irish Farmers Journal about those young farmers who did the right thing and formed a partnership with their parents to organise the transfer of the family farm, but now find themselves excluded from the Young Farmer Scheme. She discusses the situation with Derrie Dillon, who is in charge of agri affairs at Macra na Feirme. Meanwhile, negotiations are continuing in Paris to reach a global agreement on climate change by Friday. Digital editor Thomas Hubert met IFA environment chairman Harold Kingstong and Evelyn Nguleka, the president of the World Farmers Organisation.Farmer Writes contributor Brian Nicholson is a sheep farmer in Co Kilkenny and he’s experimenting with a number of new things at the moment, from AI to resuming tillage after many years without growing crops. And Irish Country Leaving’s features editor Maria Moynihan talks to the turkey farmer featured in this week’s magazine and asks him about his farm – and his secret roasting tips. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's podcast, Irish Farmers Journal news journalist Odile Evans asks Teagasc economist Thia Hennessy what the 2016 economic forecast has in store for Irish farmers. The Northern Ireland helpline Rural Support has seen an increase in calls from farmers experiencing difficulties, its chief executive Jude McCann tells Northern Ireland editor David Wright. Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney speaks to market specialist Phelim O'Neill on a trade mission to Nigeria and Ghana in west Africa about gaining more markets for Irish beef and progress in the beef forum. At the Paris climate conference, digital editor Thomas Hubert met Oisín Coghlan, director of Friends of the Earth Ireland, and Dutch-based academic Geert Jan Nabuurs author of a study on options to use European forests in efforts to combat greenhouse gas emissions. James Mimnagh, contributor to the Farmer Writes column in the Irish Farmers Journal, tells us about his suckler and dairy farm and his plans to use antibiotics less systematically when drying off cows. And Irish Country Living's Aisling Hussey gives us a roundup of Ireland's best Christmas markets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Irish Farmers Journal news correspondent Pat O'Toole discusses the continuing pay scandal at the top of the Irish Farmers' Association with news editor Patrick Donohoe. Increasing numbers of members are saying they will leave the organisation. Its environment committee chairman Harold Kingston reflects on the situation with Irish Farmers Journal digital editor Thomas Hubert. This week, the CellCheck awards honoured the 500 best dairy farmers in the country in terms of somatic cell counts. Irish Farmers Journal news journalist Odile Evans talked to a couple who made it to the top 10: James and Carmel Croke from Co Tipperary. For another perspective on dairying, Odile also visited a German farm recently. The Stratemann family farm has a turnover of €1.8m with just 75 cows. A group of young Irish farmers travelling there with Macra and Ornua shared their impressions of the visit.This week, the support group Embrace FARM announced that they were setting up a network in Cork to help the families affected by farming accidents. Thomas Hubert recently talked to one of the group’s founders, Brian Rohan. Finally, Irish Country Living editor Ciara Leahy recommends eight wines to impress this Christmas without breaking the bank. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Wednesday, officials at the Department of Agriculture held a briefing to explain what they are doing to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. One of the solutions for Ireland would be to expand forestry – an argument developed by minister of state Tom Hayes.Last week, the R&H Hall industry conference in Maynooth invited several international analysts to share their views on the immediate future for dairy and grain markets. Irish Farmers Journal Northern Ireland correspondent Peter McCann was there and he talked to some of the speakers.We have a great multimedia report at the moment on Farmersjournal.ie looking behind at the scenes at Ornua’s German business. Kerrygold is the leading butter brand in the country and Odile Evans visited their factory. She also went to a local supermarket with one of Ornua’s German marketing executives.Safe Family Farms is a joint campaign of the Irish Farmers Journal and ESB Networks, and the company's managing director Marguerite Sayers explains why her company joined the partnership. Northern Ireland editor David Wright met Lee Leachman, one of the first American breeders to believe in the development of the Stabiliser breed. Mary Phelan has an interview with Colin Connolly, the new rural crime prevention executive at the IFA, in this week’s Irish Country Living. She told digital editor Thomas Hubert about her meeting with Connolly, his plans to help rural communities fight crime and his career move away from An Garda Siochana. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The past few days have brought a lot of uncertainty for young farmers who are planning to pass the Green Cert before they receive payments from the Young Farmer Scheme or the National Reserve. It is now clear that they must at least start their course before the end of this year to benefit from the schemes. Patrick Donohoe and Amy Fitzgibbon from the Irish Farmers Journal news desk clarify the situation. Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney answers Irish Farmers Journal digital editor Thomas Hubert's questions at the launch of the Safe Family Farms campaign in partnership with ESB Networks. He also answers farmers' concerns about the high numbers still waiting on BPS and ANC payments.Beyond the shiny stands and the massive new tractors, Irish Farmers Journal machinery editor James Maloney speaks with Teagasc’s mechanisation specialist Dermot Forristal about the trends emerging from the Agritechnica show that will actually help farmers. Irish Farmers Journal markets specialist Phelim O'Neill interviewed Bord Bia CEO Aidan Cotter at the launch of the Origin Green progress report on the sustainability of participating food producers. Dr Ruairi Friel is the CEO of Galway-based West Way Health, a company selected for €50,000 of EU funding for the development of non-antibiotic therapy for the treatment of bovine mastitis. And this coming weekend, young farming women from the whole country will compete in Macra’s Queen of the land festival in Tullamore. Dublin contestant Paula Melvin shared her anticipation with Irish Country Living’s consumer editor Ciara Leahy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's podcast, Irish Farmers Journal machinery editor James Maloney tells digital editor Thomas Hubert what to expect from Agritechnica, the world's largest farm machinery show. With rural crime now at the centre of the public debate, An Garda Síochána launched operation Thor this week to tackle burglaries. Irish Farmers Journal news journalist Odile Evans was there and she brings us Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald’s answers to farmers’ security concerns. Irish Farmers Journal markets specialist Phelim O’Neill interviews Prof Michael Lee of the University of Bristol, who has an interesting take on the role of grass grazing in tackling climate change. He also gets an update on transatlantic trade negotiations from Stan Phillips, the US agriculture counsellor for the UK and Ireland. The Irish Farmers Journal's Northern Ireland editor David Wright interviews David Gibson, director of agriculture at Moy Park, following the sale of the poultry processor to the Brazilian meat giant JBS. And Irish Country Living's consumer editor Ciara Leahy brings us some of the leading voices from the 2015 Women and Agriculture Conference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's podcast, Irish Farmers Journal markets specialist Phelim O'Neill looks at the details of the WHO report linking processed meat with cancer. He also tells digital editor Thomas Hubert about his reporting on the beef industry in Poland, where Irish-based meat processor ABP owns two factories. We did enjoy a real Indian summer through most of October, but it now looks like more regular rain and the drop in temperatures are here to stay. Irish Farmers Journal dairy specialists Aidan Brennan explains how to make the most of the current grazing conditions. This week's Irish Farmers Journal includes a supplement on the Beef Data and Genomics Programme. Livestock specialists Nathan Tuffy and Darren Carty answer the most common questions asked by our readers about the BDGP scheme. rish Farmers Journal reporter Odile Evans met Christy Kavanagh, a Christmas tree grower in Co Wicklow, at a meeting with the gardai on Wednesday to discuss Operation Hurdle. The scheme brings together the authorities and local communities to prevent the theft of hundreds of trees that used to affect farms in the area during the busy period before Christmas. Odile Evans also attended Macra na Feirme’s national conference last weekend and one of the topics discussed there was access to finance for young farmers. We hear from European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan and 22-year-old farmer Kevin Moran on this issue. And with just a few days left to the pay-and-file deadline, there is still time to make a contribution to your pension for the 2014 tax year. Irish Farmers Journal farm finance specialist Peter Young shares tips to make the most of your pension. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Glanbia has cut its milk price to 24c/l, with a 1c/l top-up for members of the co-op, and it has announced that it would pay €130/t for green barley. Many farmers feel those prices are too low, and Irish Farmers Journal editor Justin McCarthy sat down with dairy specialist Aidan Brennan, news correspondent Pat O’Toole and agribusiness editor Eoin Lowry to discuss how Glanbia is doing business at the moment. As the the two main companies in the FBD group hold EGMs on 22 October to decide on the sale of the company's hotels and property portfolio, Justin McCarthy and Eoin Lowry discuss the changes planned at the insurer founded by Irish farmers.On Tuesday, the National Dairy Council and Kerrygold held their annual Quality Milk Awards ceremony. Dairy editor Jack Kennedy was on the judging panel and he takes us back to the awards ceremony with online journalist Amy Fitzgibbon. While the maize harvest is in full swing here, Paula Melvin talked to a German farmer who has a very different view of that crop. Where Heinrich Base comes from, maize, rather than grass, is the winter feed of choice for cattle.The Irish Farmers Journal's Fovember campaign - or Movember for farmers - is coming up fast. After being the most successful fundraisers for this men’s health initiative last year, we are taking things up another level, as Peter Young and Aine Hennessy explain.For more information, visit www.farmersjournal.ie/fovember Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following this Tuesday's big budget announcements, Irish Farmers Journal farm finance specialist Peter Young sat down with digital editor Thomas Hubert to crunch some numbers. Reporter Odile Evans was among the 1,500 people attending the large public meeting on rural crime in Thurles last Thursday. Last week, the European rural youth conference took place in Strasbourg and journalist Paula Melvin was there with Macra na Feirme. She spoke with Julia Wagner, a young student from Austria who described a very different way of farming to what we are used to.Also from Austria, MEP Elisabeth Köstinger answers Paula Melvin’s questions on current farming issues in the European Parliament – starting with genetically modified crops, an area where European institutions cannot seem to find an agreement at the moment. Finally, Irish Country Living’s editor Mairead Lavery and consumer editor Ciara Leahy give us an update on the Women in Agriculture coming up at the end of this month – and the tickets are selling fast! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With just a few days to go to next week's budget announcement, our farm finance specialist Peter Young asks Declan McEvoy, head of tax at IFAC accountants, what farmers can expect. News editor Patrick Donohoe attended the opening of Kerry Group’s new global Technology & Innovation Centre in Naas last week. He asked the chief executive of Kerry Group, Stan McCarthy, what the expansion meant for the company’s original farmer shareholders. Markets specialist Phelim O'Neill is just back from Poland, where he has been meeting members of the farming industry for a series of reports in the Irish Farmers Journal over the next three weeks. He explains that the growing Polish agriculture sector supplies mainly its domestic market - except for beef, where the lack of local demand makes the country a major exporter. Planting season has started for Irish tillage farmers. Journalist Paula Melvin met Meath man Howard Deheane as he started sowing winter wheat in the past few days. This week’s Irish Country Living is reporting on the work of Recovery Haven, an organisation that has been offering cancer patients and their families tremendous support in the past few years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first meeting of the Dairy Forum brought all industry stakeholders together on Tuesday. Irish Farmers Journal digital editor Thomas Hubert spoke with the IFA’s dairy executive Catherine Lascurettes, who took part in the meeting. With two weeks to go to budget day, news editor Patrick Donohoe spoke with politicians as they met farming representatives this week. Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys; Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe; and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin answer his questions. Looking back on last week's Ploughing, Amy Fitzgibbon met 15-year-old Conor McKeown, the youngest judge at the National Championship. Irish Country Living's Women in Agriculture conference will take place on 29 October 2015 in Trim, Co Meath and tickets are on sale now. Consumer editor Ciara Leahy tells journalist Mary Phelan about the highlights of the programme. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Irish Farmers Journal online journalist Amy Fitzgibbon collected impressions from some of the hundreds of thousands of visitors to this week's National Ploughing Championships. President Michael D Higgins had strong words to highlight the role of farming at the heart of Irish society when he opened the event.Yet rural communities have been plagued by rising crime and Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan visited the Ploughing to explain what the Gardaí are doing to address this issue. News journalist Odile Evans recorded the testimony of John Duggan, a Co Waterford farmer who suffered three successive burglaries.One of the many events hosted on the Irish Farmers Journal’s stand at the Ploughing was the FBD National Farmyard Awards. Irish Country Living’s consumer editor Ciara Leahy spoke to national winner Sean Treacey just after the ceremony.Finally, Amy Fitzgibbon illustrates the wind of innovation and entrepreneurship felt at this year's Ploughing with a visit to the stand of Co Longford-based Lir Agri laboratory at the Local Enterprise Village. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.