The Environment Edge

Farmers in Northern Ireland were lucky to escape with their lives in April, when they were involved in a slurry gas incident and now is the time to think, plan and act to avoid these potential tragedies on our farms. Dr. John McNamara and Francis Bligh, Teagasc Health and Safety specialists join us on the latest Environment Edge podcast to discuss slurry tragedies and near misses. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/environmentedge/

With rain of almost biblical proportions for the last eight months, farmers have been really struggling to get work done. The big question is why has this occurred and will it continue to happen into the future? Head of Climate Services Division with Met Eireann, Keith Lambkin, joins Deirdre and Cathal to discuss 2023 being the warmest and third wettest year on record in Ireland. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/environmentedge/

Winners of the BT Young Scientist group project and Teagasc award, Loreto Secondary School Balbriggan students, Abigail and Erica O’Brien Murray and Olivia O’Shea, join us to discuss how we can save the common ash. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/environmentedge/

How likely are you to get an inspection, what to expect and what are the top issues found during inspection? Department of Agriculture District Inspector in the Integrated Controls Divisions, Raymond O’Neill joins us to discuss conditionality. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/environmentedge/

Matthew Moylan, ASSAP, Tirlan advisor, Kilkenny Tirlan, chats to Deirdre and Cathal on the latest Environment Edge podcast about how to minimise nitrogen leaching on farms. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/environmentedge/

Mayo ASSAP advisor, Mary Roache, chats to Deirdre and Cathal on the latest Environment Edge podcast about the steps farmers can take to reduce the loss of phosphorus and sediment from their farm, helping to improve water quality in the local area. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/environmentedge/

In the second of a two part series, Mary Kennedy and Mick Denver chat to us about the pirates of Mud Island, cattle drives from the North Circular road to the North wall, growing grapes in the city and the Judas goat. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/environmentedge/

A thriving agricultural industry was going on in Dublin city in the 1950s, from pigs and horses to cows. In the first of a two part series, Mary Kennedy and Mick Denver chat to us about the rare auld times as kids in Dublin city and listen in to hear about horse studs, TB, swine flu, the big Tolka flood and much more. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/environmentedge/ Pic source: RTE

Mairéad Whitty, Local Authorities Water Programme and Project Lead for the Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP) and Noel Meehan, Teagasc, manager of the ASSAP programme, join Cathal and Deirdre on the latest Environment Edge podcast to discuss the new €50 million Water EIP. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/environmentedge/

Kilkenny farmers John Fennelly and Kieran Condon join Cathal and Deirdre on the first Environment Edge podcast of the year to chat about the highs and lows of farming in 2023. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/environmentedge/

With the help of the county council, Wexford farmers are working hard to improve water quality in their local seaside village of Duncannon and things are looking good. Eoin Kinsella, agricultural scientist with Wexford County Council and project manager with the Duncannon European Innovation Partnership, joins us for a chat. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/environmentedge/

With big challenges ahead, what does the first soil health law mean for Irish farmers? Also, listen in to hear the latest research on multi species swards and its soil benefits in relation to the mighty nematode, soil functions and carbon cycling. Dr Fiona Brennan, Teagasc senior research officer in soil microbiology joins us to chat all things soil health. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/environmentedge/

From famine torn countries to the idyllic countryside of west Cork, Dr Steve Collins of Derry Duff farm joins us to chat about his journey in nutrition and farming super berries with major health benefits on marginal land in the hills of West Cork. Listen in to hear about the huge health benefits and the alternative enterprise opportunities for farmers on marginal land in Ireland. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/environmentedge/

Kate Curran, a dairy farmer from county Waterford, and Sandra Hayes, the Teagasc-Tirlán Future Farm Programme Co-ordinator, joins us to discuss the rise of all women discussion groups where everyone feels welcomed, valued & able to contribute. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/environmentedge/

With Halloween upon us, on the latest Environment Edge podcast, we investigate the interesting life of bats and why they are so important to Irish farmers. Dr Tina Aughney, working with Bat Conservation Ireland and an Ecologist that specialises in bat survey work, joins us to dispel the myths surrounding bats. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/environmentedge/

With pressure mounting on Irish farmers to meet the challenge of reaching our 2030 greenhouse gas targets, what measures can farmers take to meet this challenge head on? Dr Tom O’Dwyer, Head of the Teagasc Signpost Programme, joins Deirdre and Cathal on the Environment Edge podcast with an update on the progress to date, the role of Signpost demonstration farms and the pathway to 2030. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/environmentedge/

Ciara Beausang, PhD, Anaerobic Digestion Research Officer, Teagasc, joins us to discuss the Anaerobic Digestion Plant (AD) in Teagasc Grange where organic waste and residues are converted into biogas by a group of microorganisms in an anaerobic environment. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/environmentedge/

With TB on the rise nationally, have we taken our eye off the ball in stopping the spread of this devastating infectious disease? Veterinary Inspector and regional manager in Kilkenny and Waterford Regional Veterinary Office, Ann Quinn, explains how to manage farms to reduce the risk and spread of infection – and how to be proactive and not reactive. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/environmentedge/

Teagasc’s Professor Gary Lanigan joins Cathal and Deirdre to discuss the third iteration of the Teagasc Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC). For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/environmentedge/

Aoife Leader, Walsh Scholar working with Teagasc while completing her PhD in Agriculture Innovation Support in University College Dublin, joins Cathal and Deirdre to discuss her research into communicating farmland biodiversity to intensive dairy discussion groups. For more episodes and information from the Environment Edge, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/environmentedge/