*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. On the latest episode of the AgriFocus podcast, in association with AXA Farm Insurance, Agriland technical beef journalist Breifne O’Brien speaks to Mark Waters of the ICBF about the National Genotyping Programme (NGP). In the podcast, they discuss the benefits of both dairy and suckler farmers joining the NGP and what benefits it offers to farmers breeding cattle as well as farmers buying-in cattle. The ICBF representative details the reduced co...
Jul 15, 2025•23 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. On the latest episode of the AgriFocus podcast, Agriland Editor Stella Meehan sits down with award-winning journalist, Michelle Michael to discuss 'World Without Cows' a documentary Michelle co-wrote and directed alongside Brandon Whitworth. The documentary which was aired at Alltech Dunboyne starts an important conversation about the role cows play in our daily lives and in the world around us. It features interviews with farmers, ranchers, scie...
Jul 01, 2025•20 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. On the latest episode of the AgriFocus podcast, brought to you by Agriland in association with Axa Insurance, Agriland editor Stella Meehan takes you behind the scenes of the latest agri-food trade mission to Japan. Find out why Japan is such an important market for Ireland’s agri-food sector and discover how premium Irish produce is being showcased in this market. Japan is the number two beef importer in the world and in recent years Irish beef ...
Jun 17, 2025•20 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. On the latest episode of the AgriFocus podcast, brought to you by Agriland in association with Axa Insurance, Agriland editor Stella Meehan chats to head of Crops Knowledge Transfer Department with Teagasc, Michael Hennessy. They discuss how winter crops, as well as spring-sown cereals, are performing across the country. Hennessy outlines the tasks growers should be undertaking in the coming days and weeks as growth progress is monitored and pest...
Jun 03, 2025•21 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. In this episode of AgriFocus Francess McDonnell is joined by Ann Griffin, regional advocate for the north-west with Sage Advocacy – which is the National Advocacy Service for Older People – to chat about what happens to the family farm if an older person needs to consider nursing home care. Ann addresses common concerns among older farmers and their families who fear losing the farm if they enter the scheme. She explains how the HSE assesses inco...
May 21, 2025•25 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. In this episode of AgriFocus, Stella Meehan is joined by Dr. Frank Harrington who is chair of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) Rural Agency Committee and discipline lead of Real Estate and Valuations at TU Dublin. Auctioneers and valuers from the SCSI have said that the outlook for the agricultural land market remains strong for 2025 and they are forecasting that the price of agricultural land nationally will increase by 6% on av...
May 06, 2025•20 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. On this week's episode of AgriFocus , we take a closer look at why the fallout from wildfires which swept through some parts of the country earlier this month could deliver fresh challenges for some farmers in ACRES. Joining Agriland's Francess McDonnell on this episode of AgriFocus is Fergal Monaghan, programme director for ACRES Breifne, Leinster and Munster/South Connaught regions. Fergal has has 25 years’ experience in the agri-environment se...
Apr 22, 2025•23 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. On this week’s episode of AgriFocus , Agriland editor Stella Meehan sits down with technical dairy journalist with Agriland , Hugh Harney and deputy news editor, Francess McDonnell to discuss the most topical agricultural issues at the moment. From beef price to breeding to US import tariffs, the team gauges the feeling among the farming community and agri-business about the current state of the sector and the future outlook. The podcast delves i...
Apr 08, 2025•31 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. In this episode of the AgriFocus podcast, Agriland’s Stella Meehan sits down with Carol Lynch, tax partner and head of customs and international trade services with BDO Ireland, to discuss what has become a hotly debated issue – tariffs. With Ireland exporting 90% of its agri-food produce international exports are hugely important to Ireland’s domestic economy. In this podcast Carol Lynch discusses exactly what a tariff is and what the impact of ...
Mar 25, 2025•28 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. The fortnightly AgriFocus podcast series takes a closer look at some of the key issues that directly impact on farmers, rural communities and the agri-sector. Go beyond the headlines with our podcast series – AgriFocus – where we take a closer look at some of the key issues that directly impact on farmers, rural communities and the agri-sector.
Mar 11, 2025•29 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. In this episode of the AgriFocus podcast, Agriland’s Stella Meehan sits down with chairperson of Irish Forest Owners (IFO), Derek McCabe to discuss the aftermath of Storm Éowyn and the damage it caused to forestry across the country. Minister of State with responsibility for forestry, Michael Healy-Rae has said that satellite data shows more than 23,000ha of forestry destroyed as a result of the hurricane force winds in January. Now forest owners...
Feb 25, 2025•31 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. Agriland Editor Stella Meehan speaks to Bord Bia Beef Sector Manager, Mark Zieg. We hear what lies ahead for the beef trade in Ireland in 2025 and beyond.
Feb 12, 2025•25 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. In this episode of the AgriFocus podcast, Breifne O’Brien chats to Sean Coughlan, CEO of the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) about the move by a number of Irish cattle breed societies to vote ‘no confidence’ in the revised Euro-star evaluations. Over the past two months, several of the Irish cattle breed societies have issued statements outlining they are to cease publishing ICBF Evaluations in their society sales catalogues. The ICBF CEO...
Feb 11, 2025•27 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. In this episode of the AgriFocus podcast, Francess McDonnell chats to David Whelehan, agricultural technical consultant with Vogelsang Ireland and part time beef farmer in Co. Westmeath, about the “huge value” in organic fertilisers and how farmers can make the best use of slurry on their farms Under the Nitrates Action Programme, Ireland is divided into three zones (A, B and C) based on soil type, rainfall and length of growing season. Farmers i...
Jan 29, 2025•18 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. In the first episode of the 2025 season on AgriFocus , Agriland editor, Stella Meehan is joined by superintending veterinary inspector, Audrey Jenkinson from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to discuss avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu. Most recently, the highly pathogenic virus has been discovered in a wild buzzard in Dublin and another wild buzzard in Co. Galway. There have also been multiple cases reported in...
Jan 14, 2025•27 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. As nationwide efforts continue to restore power to homes, farms and businesses in the aftermath of Storm Darragh farmers have been urged to be aware of the dangers of damaged power lines and fallen live wires. In this episode of the AgriFocus podcast, Michael Murray, public safety manager at ESB Networks, joins Francess McDonnell to highlight why farmers and agri-contractors should “not take chances” when it comes to storm damaged power lines and...
Dec 10, 2024•20 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. In this episode Francess McDonnell chats to Gary Murphy, Professor at Dublin City University’s School of Law and Government. The fortnightly AgriFocus podcast series takes a closer look at some of the key issues that directly impact on farmers, rural communities and the agri-sector.
Nov 27, 2024•38 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. In this episode, Agriland editor, Stella Meehan sits down with chair of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) Animal Health Committee, TJ Maher to discuss bovine tuberculosis (TB), it’s impact, cost and future. Maher explains the main sources and vectors of TB and the steps farmers themselves must take to ensure the disease is eradicated. They also discuss the cost to the farmer of a TB reactor in the herd and what supports might be available to f...
Nov 12, 2024•32 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. In this episode, the first of Season Two of the AgriFocus series, Agriland editor, Stella Meehan sits down with EY tax partner Alison McHugh to delve into the detail of changes relating to agricultural relief following the publication of Budget 2025. Alison outlines various scenarios where a land or property owner may need to make decisions urgently before changes are implemented on January 1, 2025. She explains the relief that is now available f...
Oct 29, 2024•34 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. In this special episode of AgriFocus, we take a look at everything effecting agriculture and rural life that was announced today in Budget 2025. Go beyond the headlines with our new podcast series – AgriFocus – where we take a closer look at some of the key issues that directly impact on farmers, rural communities and the agri-sector.
Oct 01, 2024•18 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. In the final episode of the first season of the AgriFocus podcast, we're joined by Teagasc advisor Fergal Maguire. Go beyond the headlines with our new podcast series – AgriFocus – where we take a closer look at some of the key issues that directly impact on farmers, rural communities and the agri-sector.
Jul 01, 2024•27 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. In today's episode we're joined by Dr Eimear Cotter, Director of Evidence and Assessment with the Environmental Protection Agency. We discuss how the land use sector plays an important role in fighting climate change. Go beyond the headlines with our new podcast series – AgriFocus – where we take a closer look at some of the key issues that directly impact on farmers, rural communities and the agri-sector.
Jun 18, 2024•21 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. In today's episode we're joined by Head of Tax for IFAC, Marty Murphy to discuss Revenue's new guidance on VAT refunds Go beyond the headlines with our new podcast series – AgriFocus – where we take a closer look at some of the key issues that directly impact on farmers, rural communities and the agri-sector.
Jun 05, 2024•21 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. In today's episode Agriland Editor Stella Meehan is joined by ICMSA president Denis Drennan to discuss the ICMSA's election guide and the issues effecting farmers right now. Go beyond the headlines with our new podcast series – AgriFocus – where we take a closer look at some of the key issues that directly impact on farmers, rural communities and the agri-sector.
May 14, 2024•27 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. In this episode, Agriland editor Stella Meehan sits down with chartered valuation surveyor, Dillon Murtagh of Murtagh Bros. to discuss the land sale and rental market in Ireland. Last week the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) along with Teagasc published the Agricultural Land Market Review and Outlook Report 2024 . Among the findings of the report is that national average farmland sales prices are forecast to rise by 6% in 2024. Last...
Apr 30, 2024•22 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. In this episode, head of Crops Knowledge Transfer Department at Teagasc, Michael Hennessy joins us to discuss everything to do with the effect the extended wet weather has had on the tillage sector. Go beyond the headlines with our new podcast series – AgriFocus – where we take a closer look at some of the key issues that directly impact on farmers, rural communities and the agri-sector.
Apr 18, 2024•25 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. In this episode, Agriland editor, Stella Meehan sits down with associate director with Sherry Fitzgerald Country Homes, Farms & Estates, Philip Guckian to discuss the latest Agricultural Land Price Barometer. He explains what type of land is fetching the highest prices, why large estates are more difficult to come by in some areas of the country and what factors are influencing whether or not farmers buy land....
Apr 03, 2024•27 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. In this episode, Agriland deputy news editor Francess McDonnell, speaks to sheepmeat and livestock manager with Bord Bia, Seamus McMenamin about record sheep prices being seen in the run-up to Easter. They discuss the prospects for the sheep trade for 2024, how prices and have improved since 2023 and markets for Irish sheepmeat and lamb. The AgriFocus podcast series takes a closer look at some of the key issues that directly impact on farmers, ru...
Mar 21, 2024•22 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. In this episode, Agriland editor, Stella Meehan sits down with Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Pippa Hackett to mark International Women’s Day. The minister outlines her route into organic farming, the challenges she faces as a Green Party politician working in agriculture and what she feels is the most rewarding part of her job. The AgriFocus podcast series takes a closer look at some of the key issues th...
Mar 07, 2024•30 min
*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance. In a sit-down interview with Agriland , following his announcement that he would be joining Independent Ireland, Deputy Fitzmaurice spoke about the reasons why he decided to join the party established by fellow independent TDs Michael Collins and Richard O’Donoghue. The party was established late last year with an aim to “respect the work and changes farmers are making”. This is the full unedited interview that was featured on the Agriland site....
Feb 19, 2024•29 min
